DISCLAIMER: Whilst the Wicked characters aren't my property or creation, Fiyero's ancestors are.

AN. Recently, whilst struggling with writer's block, I somehow ended up tracing back the Vinkun royal family to the 1100s. I'm not quite sure how it happened, and I had no purpose for doing it. So, this was suggested.

Fala Tiggular

(1688-1725).

Reigned from 1719-1725.

Elphaba was curled up on her bed, surrounded by books and papers. She had a notepad balanced on a knee as she scribbled notes that would eventually form her History essay. She was having trouble focusing though, her heart just wasn't in it. History wasn't just the same the past few weeks, ever since Dr Dillamond had been taken. Elphaba found it increasingly difficult to sit there and look at the man who had replaced Dr Dillamond and would have happily silenced a helpless, innocent Lion Cub without a second thought.

And then there was the fact she had been rather distracted by thoughts she should not be having about her roommate's boyfriend. Her friendship was Galinda was relatively fresh, and Elphaba was finding herself surprisingly grateful for the blonde's friendship, considering they had spent their whole first semester at Shiz loathing one another. Which was why she felt so guilty.

She had the small consolation that Galinda thankfully didn't seem to suspect anything. Elphaba had been somewhat worried, considering that overnight she and Fiyero had gone from bickering constantly to barely speaking and awkward silences. And then Fiyero had suddenly switched gears and started being what could only be described as friendly towards Elphaba. He'd make conversation when they were in the same room, and had taken to calling her "Fae", although Elphaba had no idea where that name had come from.

Lost in thought, Elphaba jumped a mile as there was a knock on the door.

"It's open!" she called, not feeling like climbing over all the books on the bed to open the door.

She expected it was someone looking for Galinda, the only one who came to visit her was Nessa and even that was rare.

The door opened and Elphaba's notepad fell from her lap as Fiyero stuck his head in the room. He looked a little surprised and awkward to find her alone.

"Um, hi. I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

Elphaba shook her head, feeling self-conscious. "No. I'm just… trying to outline this History essay."

Fiyero's brow furrowed. "History essay?"

She blinked at him. "The one due Friday after next?" she reminded him.

"Oh, right. I should probably… try and find where I wrote the question down," Fiyero said thoughtfully and Elphaba resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Were you after Galinda?" she asked him and he nodded.

"Yeah. Is she around?"

"She went into town with Milla. Something about a make-up sale… I think. I wasn't really listening once I heard the word 'shopping'," Elphaba admitted.

Fiyero grinned and Elphaba's stomach did that weird flipping thing it had taken to doing around the prince.

"I don't blame you. But thanks. See you later, Fae."

"Wait," Elphaba blurted out suddenly, as he withdrew and pulled the door closed after him.

The door came to a stop, and then opened again as Fiyero stepped just over the threshold into the room.

"Why do you call me that?" she asked him, curiously.

Fiyero's brow furrowed. "Call you what?"

"Fae. It just… it doesn't make sense."

Fiyero looked uncomfortable. "Well, I got the impression that Galinda's lucky you let her call you 'Elphie'-"

"Let is a strong word," Elphaba muttered, and Fiyero grinned.

"See? And well, I thought you needed a nickname, and I heard your sister call you 'Fabala'."

Elphaba nodded warily. "That doesn't explain where you got 'Fae' from, though."

Fiyero looked sheepish. "It's a long story, and it's pretty dumb."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow at him. "If you're going to be calling me by a name, and I'm going to be answering to it, shouldn't I know why?"

Fiyero considered her for a moment, and then shrugged. "OK," he agreed.

To Elphaba's shock, he entered the room and shut the door behind him, taking a seat on Galinda's vacant desk chair.

Slowly, Elphaba readjusted herself on the bed, putting her notepad and books aside and looked to Fiyero expectantly.

"The thing is," he began. "You kinda remind me of someone I know… of."

Elphaba frowned at him, puzzled. "I remind you of someone you know of?" she repeated. "You know someone else green?"

"Not in that way," Fiyero corrected her. "See, my great… hang on, let me get this right. My great- great- great- great- great grandmother," he said slowly, counting off on his fingers whilst looking in deep concentration, as Elphaba's eyebrows rose.

"Her name was Fala. She went by Fae," Fiyero explained. "When I heard your sister call you 'Fabala', I just thought of it. My Dad's been drumming family history into me since I was a kid, he'd tell me stories of our ancestors as bedtime tales. Do you mind?"

Elphaba was more than a little surprised. "No, I don't mind," she replied quietly, a little startled to realise she was being honest.

"Um, Fala?"

Fiyero nodded. "Fala Tiggular."

"Right. How exactly do I remind you of her?"

Fiyero looked awkward for the first time since sitting down.

"Well, she did a lot of work with the Animal community in the Vinkus," he said and Elphaba stilled.

"Oh?" she said after a moment, trying to make her voice sound casual.

"Yeah. We've got a place at Kvon Altar, Croome Gal, which she built. Kvon Altar has a pretty big Animal population, or I guess it really did back then. She built it there to work with the Animals, as far as the stories go anyway. She also negotiated the peace treaty between Ugabu and the Vinkus, which can't have been easy."

Elphaba readjusted her position, watching Fiyero intently.

"My knowledge of Vinkun history is a little vague," she admitted. "What happened?"

"Her parents, two older sisters and their families were murdered by the Ugabians. Fala and her husband and son were in the Emerald City at the time and survived, and she had to end the war to be able to go back and take the throne."

Elphaba knew enough about the Vinkus to know that there had been tension between the Vinkus and Ugabu for centuries, namely about whether it was a part of Oz or not. The arrival of the Wizard had not helped matters, Elphaba knew Fiyero's parents were working hard to keep the tension from erupting into fighting again.

"How old was she? When it happened?" she asked him softly, unable to stop herself from thinking of what it would be like to lose your whole family so brutally.

She had lost her mother, and her relationship with her father was nothing to write home about, but at least she still had Nessa. Elphaba didn't want to imagine losing her sister.

"I'm not sure exactly. But she was married and had a kid, so I don't think she was exactly young," Fiyero reassured her.

"I don't think it's easy to have your family murdered at any age," Elphaba replied dryly and Fiyero nodded in acknowledgment.

Her History essay entirely forgotten and feeling more comfortable in Fiyero's company than she ever had before, Elphaba drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin atop them.

"What else do you know about her?" she asked him.

Fiyero paused thoughtfully, never thinking he'd be grateful for his father's endless stories and wishing he'd paid more attention.

"To be honest, not much," he finally admitted, coming up blank. "I don't think she reigned for very long."

Elphaba paused. "Is that why you thought of her? The name?"

Fiyero faltered just briefly. "Well, yeah. I mean, at first. When I heard Nessa call you 'Fabala', the name popped into my head. It took me a few minutes to remember why the name sounded kind of familiar, and then I remembered what my Dad told me about her work with the Animals. It just seemed to fit, considering…"

Awkward silence filled the room.

"I should go," Fiyero said finally. "When Galinda gets back, could you tell her that I came by?"

Elphaba nodded. "Sure."

Fiyero got to his feet and headed for the door. Just before he got there, he turned back to her.

"You really don't mind? The nickname?"

Elphaba's heart clenched at the flicker of apprehension she saw on his face for the briefest moment.

"No, I don't mind," she said quietly. "I think I should do some reading on her and find out more about her," she added with the shadow of a smile.

Fiyero smiled back. "Probably a good idea," he agreed. "Books are probably a more reliable source than me."

He opened the door and stepped into the hall. Just as Elphaba reached to pick up her notebook and pen, he stuck his head back into the room.

"Hey. I just remembered one more thing about Fala Tiggular. I don't know whether it'll be in the books or not, but just in case it comes up…"

Elphaba frowned, bewildered. "What?"

"Because the Animals and everything is good, but she may not be a role model in every aspect…"

"Fiyero, what are you talking about?" she demanded.

"She married her cousin," Fiyero informed her cheerfully, and then waved and disappeared.

"Wait!" Elphaba called after him, after a moment's shock and jumped off her bed.

She threw open the door and stepped into the hall, finding Fiyero obediently pausing just down the hall.

"She married her cousin?"

Fiyero nodded calmly. "Yeah. Pirro Tiggular. You know it used to be spelled differently? T-I-G-E-L-A-A-R. Pirro changed the spelling when they married- like that made it less weird," he rolled his eyes.

Elphaba stared at him.

"Did any of your other relatives marry within the bloodline?"

"Not that I know of," Fiyero said thoughtfully. "It wasn't that big of a deal in those days, you know."

"I know that," Elphaba admitted. "I mean, I've heard that. I've just never known of anyone who actually did it before."

Fiyero shrugged. "It's a fairly gross thought, I know," he agreed. "But it seemed to work out ok. Look at me- only ten fingers, ten toes," he grinned. "Everything normal."

Elphaba smirked. "I wouldn't go that far," she said and then returned to her room.

Fiyero grinned as she shut the door behind her and then continued down the hall.

AN. If people are interested, it could become a series of oneshots that I update at times. If not, this is just a random piece and take it as it is.

Also "Just Me"- thank you for contacting me, I really appreciate it, and definitely understand what you mean about teachers and the internet! Unfortunately, the site doesn't like any use of links- it wipes out anything with a dot com in it. I just didn't want you to think I was being terribly rude in not contacting you!