Chapter Text
Emerald City, the little green spot in the land of Oz. And the City of Dreams.
It isn't much like her childhood home, but at least in Emerald City the people are more accepting of her than her own family. With new people coming in everyday, Emerald City has provided a new beginning for people seeking a better life. Whether it be a dream job or to find true love, Emerald City can provide those dreams. Whether it takes one second or 5 years to get those dreams.
Since graduating at Shiz University, Elphaba Thropp has been living a stable life in the green city. And being green herself, Elphaba has fit right in the city. Not only does she have good friends who respect her, but she has a stable job working at the bookstore. Although she’s currently in an assistant level position, nor would she see herself working in a store of any kind, Elphaba finds it fine with what she currently has, and is on the fast track to getting a promotion by next year.
By virtue, Elphaba should be happy what with the way her life has been. For Elphaba herself, she’s missing one thing: a good romantic partner.
The problem wasn’t because all of the people Elphaba dated were repulsed by her green skin or were emotionally hurt by her dates, but it’s because Elphaba was… all over the place whenever she dates someone. In some dates, someone breaks up with her because they couldn’t handle her big personality. But in other dates, they break up because Elphaba couldn’t step up to being committed to a romantic relationship in the long term.
But for now, all Elphaba has to focus on is to keep on living through life.
The daily morning routine is pretty much simple for Elphaba. She wakes up early (around like 6:00) for her morning jog. Then go back for a shower listening to the radio.
As soon as Elphaba stepped out of the shower and put on her robe, she heard the radio for the news, and she forgot what day it was today. And it’s the day that she’s been dreading for a long time.
Good morning, Ozians. This is Prince Fiyero for your morning news.
Good news is that it’s a slow news day as there’s nothing major happening right now in Emerald City and in the four provinces of Oz.
The weather today would sunny with temperatures high in the low 70s and the lows would be in the high 50s.
Now on to personalized news from regular folks. This one is from Munchkinland. If you are a member of the Thropp family all around Oz, reminder that tonight is the yearly Thropp family reunion at the Munchkinland Cultural Center…
“… Shit.”
That was all Elphaba said when she heard it on the radio. As soon as she heard her family name, she was hoping that it would be anything other than the family reunion. Elphaba hadn’t spoken with her family since she left for Shiz, and she doesn’t want to go back to her family who are most likely will belittle her for being green and for being a bad influence.
And being at work at didn’t help Elphaba distract herself from the inevitable. She was misplacing books in the wrong section, barely listening to customer’s questions, stared off into the distance as if she was in trance.
It has gotten to point where Elphaba was dropping boxes of back orders that the store’s current manager, the goat Doctor Dillamond, took her aside for a talk.
”Miss Thropp, I must say this is unlike you today. It’s as if you just seen a ghost.” Doctor Dillamond said.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Doctor Dillamond. I just had… family troubles in my mind lately.”
Doctor Dillamond sighed and gave some reassurance to Elphaba. “Well… since today is the last of your weekly shift, I’m gonna give you the rest of the day off. But when you come back to work next week, I expect you to be more focused.”
“I promise that I will, Doctor Dillamond.” Elphaba said and left the bookstore.
When she got back to her apartment, Elphaba spent the rest of the afternoon in her quiet space: at the rooftop of her apartment building. An hour into her quiet thinking, she saw her friend Pfannee coming out from the door.
“Okay, tell me what’s happening.” Pfannee said as he joined her. “Heard from Doctor Dillamond that you are having family problems. And if it’s anything bad, I will offer you for sympathy.”
“Well don’t be. Nothing bad has happened to my family.” Elphaba said.
“Then tell me what’s wrong with you that made you leave work early.”
Elphaba took a big sigh and explained her rocky relationship with her family. “The yearly Thropp family reunion is happening tonight, and I don’t want to go.”
“Then… why are you devastated about this? Don’t you have a choice to not attend?”
“I wish. But my mom wants me to attend, and I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“Geez. I know that you are estranged from your family. What with you being all green and all. Do you mind explaining how your relationship with them is like?”
Elphaba then looked at the busy city streets as she explains her family, but Pfannee doesn’t mind. “Well, you know about the ‘me being green’ part, but you to be aware that my dad, the Reverend Frexspar Thropp, is the strictest in all of Oz. If he sees you wearing jeans, he will give you a sermon about how you’re going to be punished on the spot. And when he sees me and my green skin, he sees me as his own personal failing and would use me as an example of sin and wickedness.
“Mom on the other hand, she’s one of two people in my household who treat with some kind of respect. She was the good cop to my dad’s bad cop. There’s also Dulcibear, the family nanny, who is like a second parent to me. She was the one who gave me a proper education. And then there’s Nessarose. The star child of the family. Even though she likes me, she still has to get approval from dad to the point that she’ll also lecture me if I did something bad.”
“Wow… that is a lot.” Pfannee said. Do you think there’s a way if I can attend this family outing of yours for some assistance. Like help you try and get out of it?”
“I can bring a plus one to the reunion. Even if you’re not the spouse, but I prefer if you don’t come with me. Don’t want you to get sucked into my family predicament.”
“And… do they know about you being–”
“And that’s the other major problem.” Elphaba interrupted. “They never know about me preferring girls. Not even my mom knows about it. They still want me to get married.”
“So did they keep setting you up with guys whenever you come and visit them?”
“Yep.”
When Elphaba was at the train station, she was stopped by her friend Fiyero. "Elphaba, wait up!" Fiyero shouted as soon as Elphaba was about to board the train to Munchkinland. When he finally reached to her, Elphaba punched him in the arm a little hard. "Ow! what was that for!?"
"That was for you for reminding me about the family reunion on your radio show this morning." Elphaba said
"Well what am I suppose to do, not do my job?"
Elphaba rolled her eyes by his response. "What do you want, Fiyero? The train is about to leave soon."
"I just wanted to give you this. It's for Boq." Fiyero gave her a brown paper bag of what he calls "medicinal pipe-weed". "By the way, where's Boq? Hadn't seen him all day."
"Yeah, he was suppose to accompany me to the family reunion since he has known me and Nessa since Nessa was in preschool. But I just got a text message from him 10 minutes ago and said he got a head start in Munchkinland and is already at the reunion helping with the last minute decorations."
"Huh. Never knew anyone who wants to be in the same room as your father."
"Yeah, well at least there's someone who's willing to talk to them other than me right now." Elphaba remarked. "Listen, Fiyero. If you don't have any other offers left, I better be leaving now for Munchkinland now, so I'll talk to you later." Elphaba said before board the train.
The family reunion is a modest affair. Nothing much to do other than for members of the Thropp family and other guests to talk and drink. It was Melena's idea to include people who aren't members of the Thropp family in the reunion as a way for Elphaba and Nessarose have someone to play with when they were children. Since then, besides a few people, the Thropp family reunion has been a black tie event where Frexspar mingled with some of the most powerful families in all of Oz (if they get to be invited by a Thropp first).
For Elphaba, she rarely talks to anyone in the family reunions except for 3 people: her mother, Nessarose, Dulicbear, and Boq. Boq would always come to the family reunion every year, on the insistence of Nessarose, that he doesn't need to be asked anymore.
"This year's event feels so small and quiet compared to the other years." Boq told Elphaba as she did nothing but observe the members of her family around her.
"Yeah, well I like it this way. Don't want to meet and talk to family members in a long time." Elphaba remarked. "By the way, thanks for coming in here earlier. You kinda saved my skin."
"No problem. And you can thank your sister and your mother as they requested my help. Plus, I just wanted an excuse to visit home again."
Moments later, Elphaba’s mother stopped by Elphaba’s table and greeted her. “Elphaba, it’s so great to see you again, sweetheart.” Melena said just as she hugged Elphaba.
“It’s great to see you again, Mom.” Elphaba said.
“So how’s life in Emerald City?”
“Still pretty normal. Still doing the same job at the bookstore. And I still have Boq here as my guardian angel.” Elphaba said in a joking manner, and Boq laughed with her. “By the way, where’s Dulicbear? I don’t see her anywhere.”
“Oh she couldn’t be here this year because she has to attend her son’s wedding.” Melena said. “And speaking of sons… your father and I have found someone that might be good for you.” Melena then called up a man who is slightly the same age as Elphaba to their table. The man was wearing a nice suit, but what made Elphaba don’t like him was his slick back hair.
“This is Logan. He’s the son of your father’s lawyer. I think you two might be perfect for each other. Maybe dance or talk to each other.”
Logan took Elphaba’s hand and kissed it. “Uh… geez. I didn’t expect this kind of generosity.” Elphaba sarcastically said, which her mother and Logan didn’t picked up on.
When Elphaba and Logan started dancing, it went off pretty well as they were only doing a slow waltz. But when Elphaba noticed that Logan was about to kiss her, kneed him so hard that everyone in the room could hear his cries of pain.
“Oh I am so sorry. I’m just a… terrible dancer.” Elphaba lied. “I should… I should just go.”
Elphaba then went to a corner to hide herself from the embarrassment and shame of what she did. As Elphaba just looked around the room, she noticed a blonde woman she never recognized before. The blonde also noticed Elphaba, but wasn’t repulsed by her appearance or judging her for she just did. Instead, she looked at Elphaba as if she remembered her. Both the blonde and Elphaba approached each other with relaxed posture as if they knew something that other people in the reunion don’t know.
“I never seen you in this reunion before.” Elphaba started the conversation.
“I’m just a friend of one of the Thropps. It’s my first time being in these things.” The blonde said. “Plus, I’m only here for the food. Munchkin cooking always tastes great.”
“Yeah, especially Thropp cooking.” Elphaba remarked. “By the way, who did you come with?”
“Oh, I got invited by my friend Sammy. Do you know him?”
“Uh… yes I know him. Cousin Sammy. My second cousin once removed.”
“Huh, what’s the story there?” the blonde asked.
“Oh it’s a long story.” Elphaba answered, and the blonde accepted it.
“And what about you? This is the first time that I’ve met you, what is your relationship with the Thropps?”
“As for me, I am daughter of the master of ceremonies.” Elphaba remarked, “And speak of the devil…”
The music suddenly stopped, and the spotlight shone on Frexspar, standing in the middle of the room as if he’s the center of the universe, with a microphone in his hand. “Greetings and salutations to my fellow Thropps and guests.” Frexspar introduced himself. “As you all know, this is the 15th Thropp family reunion. There have been a lot of memories throughout the years. And this year is a special one. My daughter, my pride and joy, Nessarose, is now an adult as she has graduated from Shiz University.”
Another light then shone on Nessarose, as she wheeled herself to the middle of the room, waving to everyone as they clapped.
“Who is she?” the blonde asked Elphaba.
“My sister Nessarose.” Elphaba answered. “Compared to me, she is the beacon of hope in my father’s eyes. Even though there were complications from when she was born that got her to be in a wheelchair, my father still treats her with respect. And despite being as pious as my father, Nessarose is nice with everyone. Including me sometimes.”
As the round of applause quiet down, Nessarose and Frexspar continued with their speech, but Elphaba and the blonde weren’t listening. “Listen, I think should be going now. I think I will be unease the more I stay in my own family reunion.” Elphaba said.
“No worries. I would also say scram if I have to hear how great the person I loathe was. And uh, by the way, where do you live nowadays?”
“Um… Emerald City. Why?”
“Nothing. Just wondering.” the blonde replied inconspicuously before Elphaba left the reunion.
Almost a month has passed since the reunion, and Elphaba couldn’t get the blonde woman she met out of her mind. Despite only talking to her for what felt like one minute, it felt like the first time Elphaba has found her one true love. Fortunately, during those times of yearning, Elphaba’s work life went back to normal, but more focused than ever before.
“You’re looking more happy than ever before.” Pfannee said to Elphaba as he opened a package of new books in stock behind the counter. “Did something happened at that reunion that you never even bothered telling me?”
“I’m in love, Pfannee.” Elphaba said with a yearnful sigh.
“Ooh! Snarky Elphaba really in love? You’ve had a lot of dates in the past, but this is the first time I’ve seen you with hearts in your eyes. Care to explain this new girl of yours?”
“See that’s the problem. I only talked to her for a short time that I barely know anything about her. All I’ve known of her is that she’s blonde.”
“Oh. My. Oz! Never would I thought I would see the day that Elphaba Thropp in love with a blonde.”
The two were then interrupted when a customer went to the counter for help. “Excuse me, but do you have the latest issue of the Captain Moth comics?” the customer asked.
“Sir, this is a respectable bookstore. The comic book store is right by the corner.” Pfannee answered. “And by the way, I’ve read the new issue, and Captain Moth has been going downhill since last year.”
The customer got annoyed by Pfannee’a elitist attitude and left the store. “Snob.” the customer muttered under his breath.
“Amateur.” Pfannee said after the customer slammed the door close, and Elphaba laughed at his remarks.
When Elphaba’s work shift was done, she decided to get some rest and walked home. When she walked to the park on her way home, Elphaba noticed a familiar blonde figure playing in the park with what looked like her daughter. The blonde also noticed Elphaba and the smiled as Elphaba approached her.
“I… never expected to bump into you here.” Elphaba said smittened.
“Well, since you said you lived in Emerald City, I figured that I might meet you again.”
“I… I haven’t even gotten your name at the reunion.”
“Oh come now, Elphaba. I was lying when I said it was the first time meeting you weeks ago. You must remember me from a long time ago.”
Elphaba was surprised when the blonde said her name. “How did you know my name?”
“A girl can never forget meeting someone special as someone as green. But come on, you must’ve remembered me?” the blonde asked and Elphaba shook her head. “You must’ve remembered when your family went to Frottica because your mother wanted to see her old friend. And you too made a friend there?”
It took a few seconds until Elphaba remembered that childhood memory and recognized who the blonde woman is. “No. You can’t be Galinda Upland, are you?”
“The one and only.” Galinda remarked.
“Oh my Oz! It’s been a while. You were probably my first real friend. But… what are you doing here? Your family’s is well known as one of the great doctors in all of Oz! Shouldn’t you be in Gillikin being a doctor?”
“I’m an actress here. And it helps that I have an elder brother who would be continuing popsicle’s legacy.”
Elphaba laughed with what Galinda said. “Oz! Even your choice of words is still cute form when you were a child. Well… I think should be leaving now. I don’t want to interrupt your time with your daughter.”
Galinda was confused at first until she knew who Elphaba was referring to. “Oh she’s not my daughter, she’s my youngest sister.”
Elphaba was confused. “Your sister?”
“Yeah, I have lots of brothers and sisters back home. And Momise and Popsicle think it would best if I raised their youngest daughter as if she was my own child. But I don’t mind.”
“Right… sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. A lot of people get the mistake as well. But… where do you work? For when I should meet you next time.”
“Oh… uh, the bookstore by 42nd Street.”
“Perfect! I should you there, Elphie.” Galinda said, and Elphaba started walking away. “And maybe there you’ll have the courage to ask me out.”
Elphaba stopped on her tracks when she heard the last thing Glinda said. “How did you–”
“Oh come on, Elphie. When I saw you two weeks ago, I recognized those romantic looks… because I had those same look with other women as well.”
Elphaba smiled as she recognized that Galinda was just like her. “Right… I’ll see you later, Galinda.”
While Elphaba continued her walk home, Elphaba still hadn’t taken the smile off her face. In her mind, she’s thinking that maybe her life is starting to get better. She’s about to get a promotion of her favorite place, and found a perfect soulmate.
That is… until she saw someone sitting by the front door of her apartment building.
Elphaba doesn’t recognize the person at first as the person was slumped down on store bought toilet paper. When she got closer, she noticed two big luggage, suggesting that this person has just arrived in Emerald City. By the time she stood in front of this person, Elphaba immediately recognized who the mysterious person was.
“… Nessarose?” Elphaba asked
She immediately woke up when she heard name, and Elphaba saw her sister with messy hair and wearing sunglasses. “Elphaba… thank Oz you’re finally home.”