Space Address: 3D - Renewal

Word Count: 2825

Challenges: Short Jog(N); Advice From the Mug; New Fandom Smell (N); Tiny Terror (N)

Stacked With: Spring Bingo; Individual Challenges

Warnings: straight up child abuse

A/N: I wasn't even planning on posting this, but I'm aiming for Blackout in Spring Bingo.

~o0o~

Elphaba Thropp had had a miserable existence for all of her nine years. First her mother, the only person who ever cared about her, died giving birth to her younger sister, Nessarose. The baby was premature and her legs were all twisted up making her unable to walk.

And it was all Elphaba's fault.

She was born with beautifully tragic green skin. She was green from her nose to the tips of her toes. Her lips were green, her nails were green, the only change being her eyes which were a sharp shade of grey. Everything about her was sharp, even for a child. Sharp cheeks, sharp nose, and a bony frame.

Because of this deformity, when her mother had grown pregnant, Frex, Elphaba's father, had made his wife, Melena, chew milkflowers. Thus, leading to Nessarose's tragically beautiful deformity.

Frex then treated his eldest daughter as nothing but a burden. Looking at her as if she were a flea. But a flea with a purpose. A flea that was being trained to look after Nessarose and stand beside her while she was groomed to be future Governess of Munchkinland.

If only green skin were the end of it.

No, Elphaba also had the misfortune of being cursed with magic. Magic that manifested in her outbursts. The kind that scared everyone in Munchkinland and the kind that her father tried to beat out of her.

Late in October, Elphaba had been at the market with Nessarose when some kids started throwing rocks at the both of them and called them awful names like "cripple" and "green freak" and before she even realized what she'd done, those children were hanging by their ankles.

They weren't hurt. Just frightened.

Nessarose and Elphaba were more hurt than any of them.

Father was furious with Elphaba for 1: letting it happen in the first place and 2: for reacting with magic.

She ended up locked in her room with no supper and nursing a few more bruises. Her father's words echoed in her mind.

It would be better if you weren't even here.

Perhaps they would all be better off if she weren't there. Better for Frex and his image, better for Nessarose and her social life, and better for Elphaba.

Anywhere was better than here.

Mind made up, Elphaba found an old satchel in her closet and stuffed it with a change of clothes, a hairbrush, an empty journal, and the little green bottle that belonged to her mother. Father threw it in the trash shortly after Nessa was born and Elphaba salvaged it, keeping it under her pillow.

She tested her window and found that it opened. Peering out, there was a ledge that allowed her to reach Nessa's room.

After the sun set and the house was quiet, Elphaba crawled out onto the ledge and carefully made her way to Nessa's room. She pusheding open the window just enough to place a letter she wrote on the nightstand. Their nanny would see it in the morning and read it to her.

My dearest Nessarose,

I'm sorry it had to be like this, but I didn't know if I would have the chance to do it in person. I'm running away. It's for your own good, Nessa. I can't stand to watch you get hurt simply for being associated with me. I love you too much. Perhaps one day, we will meet again, but as long as I am unwelcome to everyone else, it is better for us to be apart.

I will miss you so much and I will think of you every day.

Your sister,

Fabala

Closing the window, Elphaba crawled over to the apple tree branch that was close to the house and grabbed hold tightly before jumping. The young branch bent with her weight but didn't snap as it lowered her to the ground. She let go and took off into the night, running as far as her feet could carry her before and then walking the rest of the way.

She followed the yellow brick road until it led to a fork. Unsure of which way to go, she closed her eyes, pointed her finger, and spun around in a circle. When she opened them, she was pointing to the left.

Left it was.

Pulling her shawl tighter around her, she kept walking even as the trees grew more menacing and the air got colder. She walked until her feet cramped and ached.

Finally, she left the side of the road, plunked down on the roots of a tree, and cried herself to sleep.

~o0o~

Being on the run was harder for Elphaba than she thought. Everywhere she went, she was chased away. For the winter, she lived with various Animals and they would show her how to forage for food and what was safe to eat and not safe to eat. She wrote about it in her journal and drew the pictures the best she could.

She was always scared that someone from Munchkinland would find her and take her back to her father. Though, perhaps they'd be too scared of her to try.

Still, Elphaba was growing desperate. She was hungry all the time and she was the thinnest she'd ever been in her life. Whenever she stood up, she felt a wave of dizziness and her limbs trembled. Spring still felt ages away and she was just… so cold.

As she walked along a deer path, a tantalizing smell danced on the air. Popped corn and… peanuts.

Nose leading her, Elphaba pushed her way through the shrubbery and came upon a massive clearing filled with tents. Some of them were small in size while others were much bigger, and they all surrounded one massive tent that was completely red and seemed to touch the sky. She didn't see anyone around but her attention was brought to a barrel full of apples the size of her face. Her stomach cried with hunger. Surely no one would miss one.

Checking once more that the coast was clear, Elphaba tiptoed towards the barrel. Her mouth watered as she imagined biting into something juicy. After dumpster diving for her meals, she was eager for something fresh.

She stepped on something and a loud roar startled her. Elphaba gasped in horror as a lion in a dress, hidden by feed sacks, turned on her. The beast rose to two feet and its roar became human.

"YEOUCH!" she yelled. "That hurt!"

Elphaba gaped. She wasn't a lion, but a Lioness. An animal that was bipedal and could speak the languages of Oz.

"What's the matter?" the Lioness continued. "Didn't your parents teach you any better than to step on someone while they're sleeping?"

Elphaba's attention turned back to the apples and the Lioness' rant trailed off.

"What are you looking at? Oh…" Her features softened and her claws retracted. "You must be hungry."

Elphaba nodded. The Lioness plucked an apple from the bunch and shined it on her multi-colored sleeve before giving it to the little girl. Elphaba took a big bite and juice gushed down her chin. She slurped it up and ate faster.

The Lioness scrutinized her. "You're not normal for a human, are you?"

Elphaba shook her head.

"Where are your parents?"

"Gone," said Elphaba.

"Ah! So you do speak," said the Lioness. "I'm Teenie, and you've come to the right place for misfits."

"I'm Elphaba," she replied. "And… what place is this?"

"This is called a circus," said a deeper voice.

Elphaba turned and saw a Bear in magenta pants with yellow stripes and a beaded vest approach.

"This child came from the forest, Birch," said Teenie. "She's all alone. Can we keep her?"

"Well, that would be up to Torrance," said Birch, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "She's young, she could pick up an act easily."

"Act?"

"Have you ever been to the circus, little one?" Teenie asked.

Elphaba shook her head. "Is it all Animals?"

"Oh, no," said Birch. "We have plenty of humans. They're all acrobats and clowns. Torrance is the Ringmaster and runs everything."

"He probably wouldn't accept a freak like me…" Elphaba muttered. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, I'll leave."

"Now hold on," said Teenie. "The circus is the place to run to when you're different."

"The lame can walk, the blind can see, and everyone is selling something," said a voice.

A girl only a few years older than Elphaba rounded a tent and approached the barrel. She was slight and used a long cane that she sweeped along the ground for obstacles. Her eyes stared at nothing and Elphaba realized she was blind.

"Good morning, Wilu," said Teenie. "We have a potential recruit. She came from the forest."

"Hello," said Elphaba.

"So, what's wrong with you, Elphie?" Wilu asked. "Do you have missing limbs?"

"No."

"Can you unhinge your jaw?"

"Not that I know of…"

"Do you have a beard or excess body hair?"

"I'm nine."

"Fused fingers?"

"No."

"Sounds ordinary to me," said Wilu.

"I'm green," said Elphaba. "I'm a freak."

"Green?"

"It's a color," said Birch. "I'd say this child is the color of my favorite grapes."

"Colors mean nothing to me," said Wilu, plucking an apple from the barrel. "You could tell me that this apple is a different color from all the other apples. It smells like an apple." She took a bite. "It tastes like an apple. It feels like an apple. If it were a different color, I wouldn't know."

"Not everyone feels that way," Elphaba muttered.

"If being blind means that I'm not an idiot then I never want to see," said Wilu. "Torrance is always looking for a new act, so I think you might be okay with joining us."

"I still don't know what a circus entails," said Elphaba thoughtfully. "But if it means getting far away from Munchkinland, then I want in."

"Why Munchkinland?" Teenie asked.

"That's where I'm from," Elphaba explained. "They hated me there. I never want to go back."

"Lucky for you we never go to Munchkinland," said Birch. "Torrance is from there as well. Always said we would never make a profit so we don't bother."

Elphaba was filled with so much relief that she nearly fainted. "So… Torrance isn't small-minded?"

"Small of stature but not of mind," said Birch. "He treats all of us like family."

"When can I meet him?" Elphaba asked.

"After a bath and another meal," said Teenie patting Elphaba on the head. "I'm sure we can find you a warmer set of clothes as well."

"Teenie, don't get attached," Birch warned. "What if Torrance does say 'no'?"

"Oh, he won't say 'no'," said Teenie. "Come with me, Elphaba."

Elphaba accepted Teenie's paw and walked with her through camp. People and Animals were stirring and moving about now, and Elphaba could see that green skin very well might not be the oddest thing here. She was stared at, but more with interest than the repulsion she was used to. They called out greetings to Teenie as she passed and went back to their own matters.

Teenie's tent was on the smaller side, but it appeared she had it to herself. She drew a bath for Elphaba by heating water in a large pot and dumping it in a wooden tub. During this time, she explained to Elphaba what her part was for the circus and more of what it entailed as a whole.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Go ahead."

"I thought only lions and Lions had manes," she said. "But you're definitely a Lioness."

Teenie hummed and poured water over Elphaba's head to rinse out the shampoo. "Well, I was born a Lion, but I knew that wasn't what I was. My pride didn't like it and kicked me out. I found acceptance here and was allowed to present myself as a Lioness. Gaian—, he's a bit like me except he's a boy—, he explained it all to me when I arrived. He was disowned when his family discoverated his secret. He's a fire breather."

"Oh."

Wilu entered the tent with a bundle tucked under her arm. "I brought Elphie a change of clothes. The entire camp is talking about the fairy child you adopted. If everyone is this interested, then Torrance is sure to accept her."

"I don't know about adopt," said Teenie, wrapping Elphaba up in a towel and guiding her out of the tub. "But I always wanted a cub of my own, and this child needs a mother."

"Sure," said Wilu.

Elphaba put on the wool dress and Teenie wrapped her up in a warm cloak.

"Now, you can meet Torrance," she said.

Elphaba took Teenie's paw once more as they made their way through the camp to finally meet Torrance the Ringmaster.

His tent was large and fancy. The man himself was inside standing at a scale model of what Elphaba assumed was the circus. He was humming to himself and arranging the figurines. Torrance was short, yet tall for Munchkin standards. He was a portly man with dark hair and no facial hair. He gave off a great air of charisma and Elphaba found herself liking him before he even spoke.

"Hello, Torrance," said Teenie. "We've got a new recruit."

"Do we now?" he said and looked up. "Well, hello there, sweetheart. What's your name?"

Elphaba gripped onto Teenie's paw. "Elphaba."

"Elphaba. What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," said Torrance.

Elphaba had never been referred to as beautiful before and was taken aback.

Torrance chuckled at her expression. "Well, Miss Elphaba, if you're looking to find a home, the circus is the best place. We'll get you sorted out in no time. Now, let me see…" He scrunched his eyes and waved his hand with a flourish. Out of thin air, he produced a flower and tucked it behind Elphaba's ear.

"You can do magic?" Elphaba gasped.

"Oh, just a little," said Torrance. "I do what they call Parlor Magic, nothing amazing. Course, Munchkins don't care much for magic and they ran me out. Can you do magic, Miss Elphaba?"

"I think so," said Elphaba, not sure why she would tell this man she only met everything. "But it's terrible magic, I can't make pretty things. It's destructive."

"Destructive?" Torrance laughed. "Nonsense! Like any tool, magic needs to be taught and wielded properly. Take a hammer. If you don't know how to use it, you'll just break things, but bring nails in to the mix, oh-ho-ho, then you can build yourself a cabinet! Hm… you know, I think I'd might like a cabinet one day."

"Torrance," said Teenie gently.

"Right!" Torrance snapped his fingers. "Now, we'll train you up real good in magic, Miss Elphaba. Now, in my circus, I like everyone to have a job. Now, you've got that pretty green skin… I know!" He snapped his fingers again. "Presenting, the Fairy of Beverdosa! For now we'll put you with the Horses, but we'll get you trained in magic and tightrope. Yes, you and Wilu would be amazing on the tightrope! You're young, you'll pick it up, quickly. For now, you'll stay with Teenie until you're older, and then you'll bunk with Wilu. Wonderful! Teenie, fit her for a costume. Something foresty. Maybe flowers. Reinvent her! This is the circus, we'll give her a fresh start! Tonight, she'll just watch and we'll start rehearsals bright and early tomorrow."

"That's our cue to leave," Teenie whispered and led Elphaba out.

The rest of the day was spent with introductions and show preparations. It amazed Elphaba to see citizens from a town that chased her out just the other day willingly coming to enjoy an entire show full of people who were not normal. Elphaba forgot all about them when the show began.

Torrance had everyone clinging to his every word and Elphaba was entranced by the showmanship and talent of everyone. She laughed at the antics of the clowns and gasped at the gravity defying stunts of the acrobats. By the end, she was longing to be a part of it.

"What did you think of the show, Elphaba?" Teenie asked as she tucked the girl into bed.

"It was amazifying!" Elphaba gushed.

"Do you think you'll like being part of our show and family?"

"Oh, I can't wait! I want to get started right away."

Teenie chuckled and blew out her lamp. "Well, first, we need to sleep so we'll wake up bright-eyed and fresh."

"Teenie?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I never apologized for stepping on your tail."

"Well, don't," said Teenie. "If you hadn't awoken me, you might have taken your apple, left, and then you'd never have become one of us."

She didn't think of that and burrowed her face into her blanket.

"Good night, Teenie."

"Good night, Elphaba. Fresh dreams."

Soon, Elphaba drifted to sleep and, for the first time in her life, dreamt fresh dreams.