Wicked: The Next Generation
Chapter 1: Shiz University
"Come along, Fiyera! We don't want to be late on your first day at school."
Fiyera Tiggular was walking slowly. She was dressed in a black skirt and a white blouse. Her shoes were black and neatly laced. She was carrying a small bag in one hand and a larger bag strapped over her shoulder. Her hair was black and long and held back in a pony tail which trailed down her back.. She was an extremely pretty girl, except for one minor detail. Her skin was an unnatural green.
Now, of course, because of this flaw, Fiyera did not find herself pretty at all. But what she thought she lacked for in looks, she made up for in books. Fiyera spent most of her life with her nose buried in a book. Her mother use to say to her "Fiyera, I swear, the moment you were born, you stood up, walked over to to my shelves, pulled down a book and started reading"
This would always make Fiyera laugh. But right now nothing would make her smile. Fiyera did not want to leave to safety of her wonderful city in the country Nominlind. There were lots of unique people there. All over the country in fact. No one with different color skin, but even so, no one thought her a freak because of it. For everyone in the country of Nominlind was a freak. That is, they would never be accepted in the land of Oz.
Oz and Nominlind were two separate countries that were parted by the time portal of the Dragon Clock. In order to get to the other country, you had to pass through the time portal, which only opened at the 13th hour and would only be open for one minute. Once it was 13:01, the portal would not open for another 13 hours. (Well, 12:59 seconds) Rarely did anyone try to go through the portal. Fiyera and her sister never did...until today.
"Fiyera!" her mother cried, "You must hurry or you'll never get a room"
"Coming, Mother!" Fiyera cried to catch up with her and her little sister, who was in a well chair. Fiyera loved her mother dearly and never tried to upset her. Even though the country never was mean to Fiyera about her color, they did somewhat regard it as "different". Her parents always treated her as if they couldn't see the color at all, but her mother was the only one who she knew truely understood.
The talk and chatter of people was coming closer. Fiyera could almost make out what the others were saying, but even if she could, she was too nervous. She had heard some horrible stories about Oz. Not just from her friends, but from conversations her parents had that she had over-heard. What would the people of Oz say to her when they saw her.
"Don't be nervous," Lida Rose said, taking Fiyera's hand. "Everything is going to be fine"
Fiyera nodded and tried to smile, but failed. There was nothing she could do anymore. She had to stop dreading, for she had just walked into site of the other students.
They seemed to notice her instantly. The chattered stopped as they all turned to look. Some of them looked shocked or appalled. Other's snorted and giggled.
"What a freak!" someone said, not troubling to lower her voice.
"Now that's not very nice!" Fiyera said, looking at Lida Rose, "It's not her fault that she can't walk"
Lida Rose giggled. She knew how hard it was for Fiyera to accept that she was green and Lida Rose was always more than happy to have her divert a little of her frustation on her, as long as it didn't get out of hand.
"Fiyera!" her mother said.
"I'm just joking, Mother!" she said.
Her mother said nothing. She bent down to Lida Rose, "For my precious little girl." she said, handing her a box.
"Oh mother," she replied, openning it. She pulled out a pair of gold colored shoes, "Oh mother, they're beautiful! Thank you, I love them"
"I thought you would." she said, "Your aunt Nessarose loved shoes like that. You remind me so much of her. Now you wait here while I talk with your sister"
The other students began to start talking again. Fiyera's mother pulled her into the dark woods again were they couldn't be seen.
Now, Fiyera's mother had been dressed completely in black. She had black gloves over her hands and a thick black veil that covered her face. Fiyera was surprised that her mother could even see through it, but then again, her powers were extraordinary. Her mother didn't normally dress like this. She couldn't understand why she was and yet forced Fiyera to look as she did. As they were out of site from the rest of the school, her mother removed it.
Fiyera had told her closest of friends that her mother was the only one who understood her, even though both her parents treated her well. One look at her mother explained why. Her mother, Elphaba, had skin just like her. Unnaturally green.
"Fiyera, dear," she said, "What is it? You do want to go to Shiz, don't you"
Fiyera nodded, not looking at her mother, but simply hanging her head.
"If you don't, we can go right back to Nominland and you can go to school with Frexspar." she said, "Frex simply loves it at Jewasc"
"No!" Fiyera replied, "No, I want to go to Shiz! You know Frex, he's so protective of me. He wants no harm to come to his little sister!" Fiyera was quiet for a minute. She listened to the talking and laughing of the other students in the distance. "Besides, I want to be a great witch, just like you. You went to Shiz and that's how you got your powers. I don't want to go to Jewasc or any other school. I won't get the best training, like you did"
"You know you're father, may he rest in peace, hoped that you would become a great witch someday, too." she said, "Perhaps even be able to read the book of Grimmerie"
"The what?" Fiyera asked.
"Never mind," Elphaba said, "I'll explain it to you some other day, when you have more time. Oh, and before I forget"
Fiyera's mother reached into the black bag she had strapped over her sholder and pulled out a small box. She opened it slowly and pulled out a gold shapped locket with a dragon impression on it. She handed it to Fiyera.
"Oh, Mother, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, taking it in her hands and examing it closely.
"Open it," her mother said.
Fiyera carefully opened the gold locket and found, on one side, a small picture of her whole family in it. It was taken a long time ago. Lida Rose, who was sitting on her father's lap, couldn't have been more than one. Frex, seated in the front, had a few teeth missing and looked about seven. Fiyera, also on the floor next to Frex and in front of her mother, was holding a stuffed rabbit doll. She didn't look any older than four. On the other side, Fiyera found an inscription.
"To our priceless child, Fiyera, forever in our hearts." she read.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
"I love it!" she said. "Would you put it one me"
Elphaba took the locket as Fiyera turned around. "Your father and I made this for you just a few days after you were born." she said, "The picture was put in later, but the inscription has been there since we've had it"
She fixed the clasp and Fiyera turned back around.
"You know, Fiyera," she said, "Your father and I don't usually like to mention to you about your...your skin. We always understood that it must make you very...uncomfortable and feel out of place"
"I feel a lot better knowing that I'm not the only one with skin like this, though." she said.
"Yes," her mother said, "As much as we ignored it, for your sake, I always felt guilty that you have to live your life this way. You'll always be special to me, just as Frex and Lida Rose are. All three of you were always special to your father. But not matter what anyone says to you or does to you, don't ever let them stand in your way of letting you shine"
"Thank you, Mother," she said, "I promise you that I will become a great witch. Almost as good as you"
Elphaba gave Fiyera a great hug then and kissed her on the head. They let go after a moment.
"Well," her mother said, replacing her veil, I guess we'd better get back"
Fiyera and Elphaba stepped out of the forest, back to the chattering crowd. They quieted a bit as they saw Fiyera again.
"Now," her mother said, "I only have 2 hours before the portal opens again and it's going to take about that much time to get back to the Emerald City. Fiyera," she said, walking over and kissing her daughter's cheek, "You study hard and take care of your sister"
"I will, Mother," she said.
"Lida Rose," her mother said, bending down to kiss her other daughter's cheek, "You also study hard and behave for your sister"
"I will, Mother," Lida Rose replied.
"Make sure you two write," she said, stepping back into the forest. Fiyera watched her for a few more minutes, and then she was gone.
"Fiyera!" Lida Rose said, "That is a gorgeous locket"
"Thanks!" Fiyera said, picking up Lida Rose's bag and walking her through the crowd. The others tended to back away from them as they past. "I love your new shoes, they're so pretty"
"Students," said a voice as she came down the university's steps. All the students turned to listen. They all looked please to see this woman in her simple blue gown. Fiyera and Lida Rose looked at each other, not sure who this lady was.
"Welcome new students!" the lady said. She had the hugest smile Fiyera had ever seen. "I am Proffesor Glinda Tippermen, headmistress of Shiz University. And whether you're here to study logic, literature, or linguification, I know I speak for my fellow faculty members when I say we have nothing but the highest hopes for all of you. And I mean all of you"
"Yeah, right, all of you," said a girl in a whisper behind Fiyera and she was sure she knew who this girl was looking at.
"Now, then, regarding your room assignments. I'm sure most of you have already learned about whom you will be sharing with. Let's see, Ms. Reffer and Ms. Stavens, you'll be in room 10A. Ms. Kister and Ms. Jexerstis, you will be in room 20A. Ms. Lesserpen and Ms. Tiggular"
She paused for a moment. Fiyera and Lida Rose looked at each other again. Not about her pause, but why they're names weren't said together.
"Ms. Lesserpen and Ms. Tiggular, you'll be in room 30"
"Excuse me, Proffesor Tippermen." Lida Rose said, "But I believe I'm suppose to share with my sister"
"And what's your last name?" she asked.
"Tiggular," Lida Rose said.
"Tiggualr...Tiggular..." she repeated to herself as she flipped, "I do have another Tiggular, but she's sharing with another girl"
"I'm suppose to share with my sister, because of her needs." Fiyera said.
"What's needs are those dear?" Prof. Tippermen asked.
"She's handicapped!" she said, "She has been since she was five and she...she...she was injured"
"Yes, I had that understanding when I received her application. Ms. Lesserpen is also handicapped and they have been assigned a handicapped room"
"But we requested to room together." Lida Rose said.
"I'm sorry, Ms. and Ms. Tiggular, but the rooms are already assigned and"
At that moment, Prof. Tippermen looked up and looked over at both Fiyera and Lida Rose. She gasped as she spotted them.
"You're the Tiggular girls?" she asked.
"Yes," both Fiyera and Lida Rose replied.
Prof. Tippermen seemed barely able to speak. She just stared at them as if words had failed her.
"As I said before," she said, "There's nothing I can do about changing the rooms. At least not right now. Perhaps in a month or so, I can arrange a roommate transfer. For the time being, Ms. Tiggular, you shall room with Ms. Lesserpen and the other Ms. Tiggular, you shall room with...oh! You shall be rooming with Ms. Tippermen"
"What?" the girl behind Fiyera said.
Fiyera whipped around this time and saw three girls. One of which shared a great resemblance to Prof. Tippermen. The one who had exclaimed from shock was the same girl Fiyera had heard whisper behind her before.
"Yes," she said, "Your rooms are already unlocked and items you had already sent here are awaiting for you. You may go right up"
Fiyera began wheeling Lida Rose to a wheelchair ramp. Behind her, on steel crutches, they saw another girl walking over. She walked right over to Lida Rose.
"Hi!" she said, "I'm Serella Lesserpen. I guess we'll be rooming together"
"Yeah," Lida Rose said.
"I'm her sister, Fiyera." Fiyera said.
Serealla Lesserpen shot Fiyera a dirty look, as if she believed she was superior to any girl like Fiyera. She rolled her eyes and continued walking up the ramp.
"Oh this is gonna be fun!" Fiyera whispered to Lida Rose as they continued walking.
"Mother!" a girl exclaimed at the bottom of the steps, walking over to Prof. Tippermen. "How on earth could you put me in a room with...that"
"First of all, young lady," her mother said, looking up from her list, "I was not aware of who all the new students would be when the roommates were selected. Secondly, as I said to Ms. Tiggular, I cannot change the room arrangements at this time. You will room with her at least for now and you will be nice to her and respect her and her property. Is that clear, young lady"
Ms. Tippermen did not say anything. She stood with a sulking look on her face.
"I asked you a question and I expect an answer." Prof. Tippermen said, "Is that clear, young lady"
"Yes, it's clear!" she said.
"Good," she said, "Now, you may go to your room and meet your new roommate, Elphaba"