A/N: Alright :D. This is my first attempt at a Wicked story; I've only written drabbles. Anyway, I have never ever finished a story before in my life xD. I'm horrible at that. So while I continue to work on Finale, this is my muse, I guess? I don't know how often I'll upload; I guess it depends on the general reaction, the length of my writers' block, and other things.
Basic plot is credited to Aravilui, who wanted me to write a story in the first place . Thanks; you've been ... dare I say nice? XD
So without further ado, What Might Have Been.

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me; any dialogue you recognise in this chapter is from the musical.

Sudden Silence

Elphaba Thropp's life was full of emotions. She had felt disgust, apathy, irritation, empathy, incredulity, and wonderment for the people and things that surrounded her. However, never had she imagined that she'd be feeling jealousy, embarrassment, giddiness, and even aching for a boy- she was not that kind of girl.

Yet, watching the couple walk away on the walkway above, she felt a pang of longing: longing to feel what they were feeling, to hold a boy's hand and have him hold hers willingly with no remaining feelings of revulsion, to feel love- if you could call Galinda and Fiyero's relationship that.

She immediately brushed these notions away. She was being ridiculous.

The sensations that had been lingering ever since Fiyero's hand had brushed hers evaporated as Madame Morrible appeared clutching a wonderfully emerald envelope. All at once, her heart filled with hope and delight- wishing and uncharacteristically praying that her dream had finally come true.

It had.

Hadn't it?

Elphaba found herself wandering back to her dormitory a little later, mind and pulse racing with mixed feelings and thoughts. When she opened the door, still clutching the green invitation, she found she wasn't as sure anymore. When Madame Morrible had approached her, she had felt as though anything to get her away from these confusing feelings she had been feeling towards Fiyero was a welcome relief. Now, however, she was looking at it more rationally, alone and composed. Was she even ready to see the Wizard? Would her temper hold up? That last question was the most disconcerting; she felt as though she was ready to burst already- would she say something incredibly stupid that would haunt her?

She sighed, placed the jade envelope on her nightstand carefully, and flopped down on her bed, covering her head with a pillow. She would figure it out tonight; after all, she didn't have to let Morrible know her decision until noon the next day.

Unfortunately, she would not get the chance to reflect.

Galinda banged the door open, obviously in a sour mood. She grumbled under her breath as she passed Elphaba's bed and whirled around the room in a flurry of pink. Elphaba sat up slightly, looking on amusedly as Galinda tossed several dresses out of her wardrobe, analyzing a few more, and then seemingly gave up and moved on to her vanity, where she started applying makeup.

"Trouble in paradise?" Elphaba inquired with just a hint of sarcasm.

Galinda spun around and looked up as though she had just noticed her green friend was there. "Oh Elphie," she whined, "You have no idea."

Elphaba snorted derisively. "Fiyero being rude, then?" It was frightening; part of her wanted Galinda and Fiyero to be having troubles, and she wasn't sure why.

"Oh, no," Galinda said, a small pout forming, "he's just so… moodified and distant and… he's been thinking." Her small pout turned into a full-blown mope as she confessed, "And that really scares me."

Elphaba couldn't help but snicker at that even though she knew Galinda was looking for sympathy.

"Elphie!" Galinda cried, distressed. She abandoned her futile makeup mission and sat down on her bed, burying her golden head in her hands.

Immediately feeling awful for both her laughs and her previous emotions she had felt towards Fiyero, Elphaba's amusement faded as she said, "Oh, Galinda, you know I didn't mean to laugh at you." She slipped off her bed, moving to comfort her friend. "I just thought it was funny, Mr. 'Dance-through-life' suddenly becoming sullen and pensive. You have every right to fret."

"It's not just suddenly, though," Galinda argued. "He's been like this increasingly, but it just really started today, after Dillamond was fired. I didn't know he cared about that old Goat so much, and… I just don't know what to do," she concluded with a wail.

Elphaba was at a loss for words. "Galinda, just show him you cared too, and you're willing to stand by him… or something," she finished lamely.

Galinda jumped up as though she had been burned. "Oh, Elphie! You're brilliant!" she exclaimed, her eyes glowing. "I'll take a stand! I'll… change my name… or something."

Elphaba tried very hard not to stare at Galinda as if she had suddenly grown two heads. "Uh, your name, Galinda?"

"Yes! To express my outrage at this unfair treatment, I shall henceforth be recognized as simply Glinda," Galinda finished, looking proud of herself, "to acknowledge Dr. Dillamond's difficulty with pronouncing Galinda and of his dubbing me Glinda."

Elphaba felt as though she was surely dreaming. "Uh, Galinda-"

"It's Glinda!" Galinda- or Glinda, Elphaba supposed- screeched sharply.

"Glinda, then," Elphaba said, her irritation rising. "Are you sure this is the best way to- uh, take a stand?"

Glinda looked offended. "Of course! Dr. Dillamond would be proud-"

Elphaba buried her face in her hands. Had Glinda's maker forgotten to give this creature some brains?

Glinda crumpled as if her friend's reaction had proved that the idea was irrational. "You're right," she said meekly. "It's a dumb idea; I don't know what made me say it." She started fidgeting with the edge of her dress, looking vulnerable.

"Glinda," Elphaba said hesitantly, and then paused, trying to figure out what to say next. "You're right, I'm sure Dr. Dillamond would be proud you're thinking of him." She wasn't sure of what she was saying, but oh well: Glinda needed consolation.

Glinda sniffled and jumped off the bed in search of some tissues. She rummaged around her own nightstand, and when the search proved unsuccessful, she started on Elphaba's.

Elphaba, enjoying the moment of silence broken only by things shifting around, leaned back on Glinda's bed, her mind wandering about what to do with that emerald envelope.

As if Elphaba's thoughts were directing Glinda around her roommate's nightstand, Glinda suddenly drew a sharp breath.

Elphaba turned around, her "what?" dying on her lips as she saw what Glinda held up: the letter from the Wizard.

"Elphie," Glinda said, practically bouncing with excitement, her former dismay completely forgotten, "What is this?"

Elphaba sighed. Glinda was not going to let this go. "A letter."

Glinda scoffed. "I'm not blind. But who would send a letter in a gr- emerald envelope?" She started waving the envelope in front of Elphaba's face, giddy.

"The Wizard," Elphaba said, defeated. She winced as Glinda let out a high screech of jubilation.

"Oh, Elphie! What does it say, what does it say, what does it say?" Glinda's excitement was almost as if the letter was for her, not for Elphaba.

Elphaba sighed again. She hadn't technically read it yet, but Morrible had told her enough. "He wants to meet me, Glinda."

Glinda squealed again, her curls bouncing in time with her jumping motions, and then she stopped, her grin fading. "Elphie… you don't seem excited about this." Her beam renewed a bit as she continued, "Isn't this what you've always wanted, to meet and work with the Wizard?"

A ghost of a smile appeared on Elphaba's face as she murmured, "Of course." Her smile disappeared almost immediately, though, as she said anxiously, "But what if I ruin it, Glinda? You know how I am… what if I don't agree with something or say something stupid at the wrong moment?"

Glinda smiled sympathetically. "Elphaba, I'm sure it'll be fine."

Reaching a decision in a split second, Elphaba said with finality, "You're right. It will be." She reached over for the envelope still resting in Glinda's hand and, upon seizing it, tore it in half.

Glinda gaped. "Elphie! What in Oz's name?"

Elphaba forced a smile on her face. "I'm not going." With that pronouncement, she flopped down on her own bed, replacing the pillow over her head.

Glinda traipsed over to Elphaba's bed, grabbed the pillow off of her friend's head, and hissed, "Are you insane? You'll probably never get another chance like this- ever!"

Elphaba felt torn. "I know," she whispered. "But I can't do it." And with that, she grabbed the pillow from Glinda's hand, turned off the light, and sank back onto her bed.

In the shadowy darkness, Elphaba heard Glinda sniff tactlessly and stomp off to her own bed. "I still think you're making a mistake, Elphie," she said softly, a few minutes later.

Elphaba sighed. "Good night, Glinda."

Glinda obviously got the point, for no further discussion was held that night.

"B- b- but, my dear girl, are you absolutely sure?" Madame Morrible seemed, for once, at a lack for words.

Elphaba closed her eyes. She had had this discussion three times now, including the previous night's conversation with Glinda. "Yes, Madame, I'm sure. I just … don't feel I'm ready. And plus, someone has to care for Nessa. I couldn't leave her alone," she added with a forced smile.

Morrible's face immediately went passive. "I see. Well, my dear, who's to say if another possibility like this will materialize? I'm sure your sister will be fine should you choose to leave."

Elphaba's smile felt completely stretched now. "Oh, no, Madame. It's not just my sister. I just couldn't do it; I th- know­- I'm not quite ready."

Morrible bobbed her head thoughtfully, her passive face still implemented. "Not ready magically?"

Elphaba nodded respectfully. "That, and other things."

Morrible's inert expression disappeared, replaced by a false grin. "I understand, dear. I'll take care of it, don't worry."

"Thank you, Madame," Elphaba murmured, a real smile appearing on her face as she exited the room.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll take care of it," Morrible whispered conspiratorially to the closed door.

"You're raving," Boq said with an incredulous expression on his face.

It was lunchtime, and Glinda had chosen to regale their group with the tale of the letter and Elphaba's rejection of said letter.

Elphaba looked at him, something akin to a glare on her face. "I'm not." She then turned to Glinda, who was sitting with Fiyero; the latter had a far-away look on his face. "Glinda, are you quite done telling this story?"

Glinda smirked, an eerie expression on the petite girl's face. "Nope. I think we can all truthfully say you made a peculiar choice; therefore, I shall keep telling it until you admit it."

Elphaba rolled her eyes, getting up from the table. "Enjoy your lunch," she announced sarcastically.

"Where are you going?" Nessa inquired curiously.

"No idea," Elphaba smirked. "I'm sure I'll find something to do without people pestering me about my choices, thank you very much."

A few laughs met this statement as Elphaba left the lunchroom.

She wandered about the school for a few minutes, and upon finding nothing of interest to do, made her way to the outside grounds. Lost in thought about nothing in particular, she hardly noticed the other students scattered calmly around the grounds; that is, until one of them collapsed in a heap.

She immediately jogged over to the fallen student: she was sweating and shivering in her state of unconsciousness. 'What to do?' Elphaba thought fretfully. She looked at the student once more; it wasn't one of the 'cronies' in Glinda's old group… surely she wouldn't mind Elphaba helping her?

The girl groaned painfully. Without thinking on the subject anymore, Elphaba picked up the fallen girl with as much gentleness as she could manage and with a bit of difficulty, jogged back to the school, taking her to the infirmary.

A few strange looks were shot her way as she scrambled up the stone steps, student still in tow. However, she reached the infirmary soon enough, meeting no trouble, and called frantically for the nurse.

The nurse appeared with an agitated expression on her face that disappeared almost immediately as she registered the unconscious student in Elphaba's arms.

"Where should I put her?" Elphaba asked, feeling as though she was about to collapse herself.

The nurse gestured to an empty bed, gathering a few supplies. "What happened?" she asked curtly.

"I was just outside wandering around and I saw her collapse… she was sweating and shivering like she had a fever, so I brought her up here," Elphaba answered, watching the nurse examine the student.

The nurse looked up at her disbelievingly. "Anything else?"

Elphaba shook her head. "Is she going to be alright?"

The nurse didn't answer her for a minute, rummaging around with her tools more anxiously with each moment that passed. "I- of course, dear. Now please, go?"

Elphaba obeyed, leaving with a polite curtsy. She left the infirmary feeling confused: why was the nurse so nervous?

"Madame Morrible?"

Morrible looked up from her papers, the candle giving her face an eerie-looking glow. The speaker was a nurse from the infirmary. "Yes?"

"I thought you should know," the nurse began nervously. "There's been two different students brought to the infirmary today; one at two, the other just an hour ago… we can't identify the source of their ailments," she admitted angrily. "However, they both seem to have the same symptoms- fainting, a high fever, and a state of delirium when they do awake. It seems mild enough right now, but… we're worried it could be a magically-induced sickness."

Morrible stood up sharply. "What are you suggesting?"

"N- n- nothing, Madame," the nurse stuttered. "We were simply wondering if you had any enemies that might be capable of this."

Morrible pretended to look thoughtful. "I'll think on that subject a bit more and let you know if I come up with anything."

The nurse nodded. "Of course."

She then turned to exit when Morrible stopped her. "You'll let me know if their condition changes?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Of course, Madame."

When the door shut, Morrible's eyes glinted as a dangerous smile lit up her face. "Excellent. It has begun."