Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked and am merely borrowing its characters.

Author's note: This is part one of my two part story. I hope you enjoy it! (P.S.: Please excuse all the errors, which I'm sure I made, English is not my mother tongue)

Today was my first day at Shiz University. To be honest I was a little nervous. The school is widely known for being an elite university and I am far from being an elite student myself: Finding every subject, with the exception of physical education to be either dull or boring, I have never put as much effort into my studies as I should have. It was only due to my father's impressive connections that I was allowed to enroll at Shiz today.

I was arriving at Shiz by carriage: Excited at the possibility of an adventure, my childhood friend Master Averic had taken it upon himself to personally drop me off at the university's gates. While the last few days had been spent joyfully reminiscing childhood memories, this morning had found me at a more somber note. I kept worrying about not being able to fit in: Being from the Vinkus alone would mark me as an outsider, but in addition to that I was no ordinary "Winkie", being a prince, and having the matching diamond covered skin to prove it, would surely make me stick out like a sore thumb. Trying to suppress the urge to whine about it, as such behavior hardly seemed appropriate for the future leader of my tribe, I grew annoyed with Averic's everlasting carelessness. My resulting grumpiness led Averic to banish me from the driver's seat and into the back of the carriage.

There, I must have dozed off because next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor of the carriage rubbing my aching head. The sounds of the moving vehicle, the pattern of the horse's hooves on the road had stopped and the only sound I could hear was the muted sound of an argument taking place right next to the carriage.

From what I could gather Averic's reckless driving seemed to have once again almost led to an accident. I could hear a female voice shouting. Curious I opened my door – and did a double take. Green? Yes, definitely green! To my surprise the girl Averic had almost run over was in fact green! While I was gaping at her in shock, she was glaring at me from behind her glasses:

"How considerate of you to finally grace us with your presence. I strongly suggest that the next time you decide to take a nap in the back of your carriage, you think twice about whom you're letting maneuver your vehicle!"

With that she was off, striding purposefully in the direction of a tall brick stone building, which according to the big brass letters across the building's front contained "the Ozma the Literate Memorial Library".

Averic and I looked at each other flabbergasted. I was about to comment on the abruptness of her leaving, when I felt a tap on my right shoulder. Turning around I saw a young Munchkinlander standing behind me.

"Master Fiyero Tiggular?" he smiled, "My name is Boq. I have been assigned to be your guide around the university today."

I once again opened my mouth to respond, only to be interrupted again. "Sweet Oz, you're short!"

Averic has a talent for inappropriate comments like this, in fact, to this day I recall our first meeting perfectly: I had been six years old and the visit to the Gilikin mansion belonging to Averic's parents, had been my first trip away from home. Averic was seven at the time. His first comment to me was: "I'm Averic. Are your diamonds supposed to look funny?" Thus a beautiful friendship began…

"Please excuse my friend Averic. He doesn't know how to behave in public. It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Boq." That received me a blush and another smile from the Munchkinlander.

With Averic's help I made quick work of unloading my luggage. Then after bidding him farewell I turned around, only to see that Boq was now in the company of two other boys. Both were tall and lean with mischievous smiles upon their faces. Noticing they had my attention they chorused:

"All hail oh Prince of the Winkies, thy humble servants await thy orders!"

Boq rolled his eyes: "Master Fiyero meet Crope and Tibbett. Shiz's very own comedic duo!" At that both boys bowed in an exaggerated way, purposely flailing their arms in each others faces. I couldn't help it: I laughed. Maybe blending in wouldn't be such a difficult task after all?

After helping me take my luggage up to my room and dropping me off at the headmistress' office, where I officially enrolled, Boq spoke up again:

"So were do you want to begin our little tour around the hallowed grounds of dear old Shiz? May I suggest the lake? It's such a nice day!"

We were making our way across campus when our conversation was interrupted by a sound so feral it could have passed as a growl. It was accompanied by a lot of shouting and stemmed from an argument that was taking place a little to our left. I was not surprised to see that the green girl from earlier this morning was one of the participants. She was standing at a short distance from a pretty girl in a wheelchair. As I looked closely I noticed that the green girl's legs were twitching slightly, her hands were clenched into fists. Her entire posture was giving off the impression that she was fighting the urges to either strangle the other girl or flee the scene.

"Nessa, I told you before: I will not have this discussion with you again! Let's just agree that on this particular topic, like on so many others, we disagree, and leave it at that!"

"Why must you be so stubborn, Elphaba? You know as well as I do that your behavior is absolutely intolerable! More than that it's…, it's…"

"It's what little sister? - I realize that it may come as a shock to you, but I refuse to give up the only happiness I have in my life just because you and your precious Unnamed God disapprove. Pray for me if you must, but do not expect me to listen!"

With that the green girl was off, the urge to flee having apparently won her internal struggle. We watched in silence until the girl she had called Nessa was gone as well, determined in her ambition to catch up with her sister.

Then Tibbett cried out: "Ah, don't you just love a dispute between the Thropp sisters? Those two certainly never fail to entertain!" to which Crope responded by clapping his hands together and yelling: "True words, my friend!" and our little group continued its short marsh to the Shiz University lake. Boq, sensing my bewilderment, gave me a reassuring smile:

"Don't worry about Elphaba and Nessarose. They are both very passionate people and sometimes their temper gets the better of them. They will cool off eventually or at least go to different parts of the campus to sulk. I know they can come off as rather intimidating, but deep down they are actually very kind - especially Elphaba. Oh… look: we're here! So, what do you think?"

"I like it, it's … Gorgeous!" The last word left me mouth in a whisper as I was taken in by the beauty before me.

The "lake" had turned out to be a large pond surrounded by a meadow of wild flowers. The water was clear and sparkled in the summer sun. Dragonflies were skimming its surface and a family of ducks was drifting in the shadows of a nearby tree. It was beautiful. However, the scenery was not what had taken my breath away:

Before us, leaning with her back against the trunk of a large tree, her legs crossed and stretched out in front of her, sat the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was a vision: She had long blonde hair that seemed to have at one point, probably due to the lingering summer heat, been bound up, but that had now partially freed itself, leaving soft ringlets to frame her delicate face elegantly- She was wearing a white subtly embroidered sundress, that while it might have seemed almost plain on other girls, fit her petite form perfectly. Sitting there she almost reminded me of a porcelain doll. In her hands she was holding a worn looking book. In fact she was so engrossed with reading, she didn't seem to notice our presence until Boq decided to disturb the piece and quiet by yelling out: "Glinda! Glinda!"

When she looked up I found myself staring in the most beautiful set of eyes: Deep blue: The color of cornflowers. She smiled. If my reputation as a Vinkus prince had allowed it I'm sure I would've swooned. Instead I faked confidence, shooting her a smile, which I hoped she would find charming.

"Glinda, meet Master Fiyero Tiggular. Master Fiyero meet Miss Glinda Arduenna."

"Why of course I've heard quite a lot about you! It's a pleasure to meet you Master Fiyero!" I couldn't help it, I smiled proudly: She, "Miss Beauty Personified" had heard of my existence even before I arrived at Shiz! Resisting the urge to puff out my chest, I replied "The pleasure is all mine!"

I reached out my hand intending to take hers and plant a kiss upon it as was tradition, but before I even came into contact with her hand, Tibbett was pulling me away, calling back to Glinda: "Bye honey! Nice seeing you!" Crope followed suit.

"Wha…" I started to say, but Tibbett interrupted me: "Come on! Hurry! I just remembered today is the first Friday of the month. That means today is Blueberry Pancakes for Lunch Day at the cafeteria!" I looked at Crope, who elaborated: "Oh yes, that's right. You have to taste them! They're simply divine: probably to make up for the otherwise mostly inedible stuff they serve."

"Alright, let me just say goodbye to Miss Glinda…." I turned around, but Glinda was already walking away in the other direction. Boq came running after us: "Good news guys, seems like Glinda and Elphaba will be joining us at the Peach and Kidneys tonight!"

I was confused: "The Peach and Kidneys?"

"That's a pub we are all going to visit tonight. You're gonna like it, it's cozy and the color scheme is pretty fantastic for a pub!" Crope grinned.

"And Miss Glinda will join us there?" I asked. I must have sounded a little too eager, because Tibbett laughed: "Well, there goes another fine man: Lost to the charm of Miss Glinda Arduenna."

Thankfully Boq saved me from further humiliation by responding to my question: "Yes, she and her roommate: Miss Elphaba."

"Miss Elphaba? You mean the green girl?"

"Yes, they are both part of our little circle of friends. I wonder if the other girls will join us? … I'm sorry guys, but would it be alright if I informed them of our plans real quick? I will be back in no time!"

"Sure, no problem! We'll keep Master Fiyero company. But you know what today is, don't you?" Tibbett asked rubbing his stomach.

"What… oh, that's right! It's Blueberry Pancakes Day! Like I said I'll hurry!" And with that he was gone.

I barely realized his departure as I was still pondering the information I had just gathered.

"So, the… green girl is actually her roommate?"

"Oh she's much m… ouch! Tibbett! … Yes the Misses Elphaba and Glinda are indeed rooming together!"

Had I not been so distracted by my thoughts I might have noticed the meaningful glance my two companions exchanged as well as the mischievous glint in their eyes. As it was, I didn't attach much meaning to the fact that Tibbett had just none too gently slapped Crope's arm. I simply ascribed it to the quirky nature of their general behavior.

"What an odd school you have here: I mean, the prettiest girl is rooming with a green girl! She also seems to be contend reading a book in silence instead of gossiping with friends?"

"Oh, don't worry Glinda likes to gossip alright. But she likes to think, too: Her dream is to become an architect one day."

I couldn't believe it: My dream girl was smart, too? I was so lost in my thoughts, I heard Crope's addition only faintly:

"Oh yes, Miss Elphaba is truly rubbing off on her, isn't she?" This seemed to be another inside joke, because by now both boys had broken into fits of laughter.