I'm back! Don't ask me where this story came from. Plot bunnies sometimes have their own ideas. I guess you could say this was another challenge for myself, writing about topics I don't normally write about - I've been challenging myself a lot in my writing lately.

WARNING: Now, you all know me and my writing, so you know there won't be anything explicit in here. However, this story is about prostitution, so expect mentions of eating pie and some other things as well, including (attempted) rape, not-quite-consensual sex, suicide, and abortion. Again, nothing too bad and (I think) nothing triggering; but if you don't want anything to do with these topics, then don't read this story. It's simple as that.

Now, on with it and I hope you'll stick with me and enjoy despite the somewhat heavy themes!

1. The Prince's Problems

Prince Fiyero Tiggular of the Vinkus was known for many things. Organising the best parties in all of Oz was one of them – he always had the best wine, the best music, and the best company, even though the details of those parties were more often than not completely forgotten by its attendants in the morning. The prince was also known for either having flunked out of or having been expelled from as many as five different universities over the course of only three years, much to his parents' utter despair. He was an eligible bachelor, although that did not have much to do with his skills and intelligence (or lack thereof, according to most people). He was mostly just good-looking: with his muscular build, well-defined features, and bright blue eyes, he had even been declared the handsomest celebrity in all of Oz by the popular magazine Ozmopolitan. Another thing he was well-known for was his way with women – charming them, using them, and then tossing them aside. It was a miracle, really, that girls still swooned over him even though they knew about his reputation.

Sometimes the prince could not find a girl to keep his bed warm at night, or he simply wanted to try something different. That was when he visited one of the brothels scattered throughout the country, paying some extra coins to buy the silence of everyone who saw him there. Not that that practice did him much good; everyone knew about his occasional visits to such places, but hardly anyone spoke of them aloud. Most people did not care much, since most men visited a brothel at one time or another. When it came to the Vinkun prince, they all had bigger issues to worry about – such as what kind of king he would make if he could not stay at a university for more than a year and was as brainless as a scarecrow.

Eventually, he did manage to do well enough in his sixth university to earn his degree in Politics, which caused a sigh of relief to ripple through the Vinkus. He was the royal family's only heir and the people felt confident that with an education, Prince Fiyero would soon settle down, abandon his childish antics, and find himself a wife. Even his parents, King Hamold and Queen Elora, were hopeful. The king started giving his son some royal duties, carefully beginning to prepare the frisky prince for his destiny as King of the Vinkus; and the queen kept close track of every girl Fiyero encountered, wondering if this might be the one he would present to his parents as his future wife.

She did not see any of those girls a second time, however; and as Fiyero continued to flirt, frolic, drink, and dance, his parents' hopes soon dissipated. The prince was twenty-three years old by then and as a last resort, the king and queen sent him to live with his grandparents in the eastern Vinkus for a while, hoping their simple lifestyle and kind, but stern natures would help turn Fiyero's behaviour around.

The fact that he was currently sitting in a bar, downing a glass of whiskey as he laughed with some drinking mates he had met within days of arriving in the town of Reins, did not imply that his parents' hopes would come true.

The truth was that Fiyero did not want to grow up. He didn't want the responsibilities that came with being king; he didn't see why he would ever want that. All his life, he had known what had been expected of him. Everyone around him had hinted at the fact that he was going to be king and ever since his early teenage years, people had pushed him to be at his best behaviour, since he was an example for the people of the Vinkus.

Even back then, when he was younger, Fiyero didn't want to be an example. He wanted to go to school and have friends, to climb trees and chase girls, and to do all the things normal boys his age did. He started rebelling and eventually, that turned into a survival strategy. Whatever was expected of him, he would do exactly the opposite. He hated seeing how badly it hurt his parents, but he pushed them away as well, because they were the ones who had put this burden on him. He had never had a choice. He had no control over his own life and so he tried to take that control in a different way.

He staggered out of the bar a couple of hours past midnight, still singing the song he had been singing inside with his drinking mates, terribly off-key. He stumbled over his own feet and nearly found himself smashing against the dirty cobblestones, but he managed to stay upright somehow and made his way out of the back alley and into another.

His grandparents lived at a small farm on a country road – very rustic and quiet, but Fiyero did not really like rustic and quiet. Thankfully, the town of Reins was only a few minutes' walk down the road from his grandparents' farm and so that was where Fiyero went for his amusement. There were a couple of bars and taverns, lots of people his own age – both nice young men and lovely ladies – and even a brothel. He had thrown a party in the common room of that brothel on his first night in Reins a little less than a week ago and thus he had gained a lot of new friends already.

He swayed, reaching out to steady himself against a wall. Bile rose in his throat and he threw up on the cobblestones, wincing at the sour taste in his mouth. All right, maybe he should not have had those final three glasses. Oz, were his grandparents going to kill him.

He blinked, bleary, and tried to orientate himself. He wasn't sure where he was or how to get back to the farm, but maybe he could just stay here in town until morning. He had some money with him, so he could go to the inn... or perhaps one of his friends would let him stay over.

It started raining, large drops falling down onto his head, and he swore. He hated rain. He stumbled on, still unsure of where he was or where he should go. The rain picked up, soon soaking him to the bone, and he did not hesitate when he saw the brothel on the corner of the street. A sign with a girl's silhouette and the name of the place was swaying in the wind, making creaking noises. The Hidden Depths, the brothel was called, although Fiyero had already learned that it was more commonly known as "The Fish's Lair" among the townspeople. He hadn't been sure why until he had seen the woman owning the place, a Madame Morrible, on the night of the party. The similarities to a fish were really rather striking.

He had been to the brothel before a couple of times – once with a redhead and once with a pretty blonde – and he slipped inside now, blinking a few times to try and get his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting in the common room. Madame Morrible herself instantly swept over to him, a fake smile plastered onto her make-up-covered face.

"Welcome, Your Highness," she purred. "May I take your coat?"

He nodded and handed it to her. She wrinkled her nose at the spots of vomit on the front, but didn't say anything as she moved to hang his sodden coat away somewhere. "How can I help you today? Are you just here to seek cover from the rain and perhaps have a drink, or would you like some entertainment for the night?"

He grinned at her. "You'll never hear me saying no to that." He rubbed his hands together. "Now, which girl would you recommend to me tonight?"

She smirked. "That depends on your preferences, Your Highness. If you like yourself a lovely redhead like last time, there is Ruby. If you prefer blonde with curves, we have Topaz available tonight – you said you liked her a lot the first time you were here, so maybe you'd be up for a second round with her? We also have some fuller young ladies, if that tickles your fancy – I can assure you that Onyx is very good at what she does and her figure, though full, is quite attractive. The same goes for Sapphire. I would also recommend Emerald to you, in case you like something more exotic; but unfortunately, like last time, she is still indisposed." She smiled again. It was truly a terrifying sight to behold, Fiyero thought. It was like watching a fish stretch its lips all the way back to reveal two rows of teeth that shouldn't even be there. "We have girls in all shapes and sizes, with different body types, hair colours, and specialties. Whatever you like, Your Highness."

"I think..." He thought about it for a moment, but thinking was hard with so much alcohol still coursing through his veins. "I think I'll go with Topaz again. She really was wonderful."

"Very well. That will be five pieces of silver for an hour with her, Your Highness."

Fiyero paid and Morrible turned around to point. "Back there, up the stairs, down the hallway, around the corner, second door to the right – just like the previous time you saw her. Enjoy, Your Highness."

His head spinning, he went to the back and climb the stairs, only to hesitate at the top of them because he already couldn't remember Morrible's instructions anymore. He slowly moved down the dim hallway. "Hello?"

"Hello," a voice purred and he turned to find Ruby, the redhead he'd been with last time, standing in the doorway to one of the other rooms, clad in a robe. She was twirling one end of the belt looping around her waist between her fingers and the look in her eyes was sultry. "Come back for a second round?"

"Not tonight," he apologised. "Maybe later?"

Her eyes darkened, but she smiled sweetly. "Sure."

"I'm looking for Topaz now," he said.

She pointed down the hallway. "Around the corner. Second door to the right." She giggled and waved at him before disappearing back into her room.

Fiyero followed her directions and found himself in a room decorated with lots of pink – he'd forgotten just how much pink Topaz had in her room. In the middle of it was a large bed with a blonde beauty stretched out on it on her stomach, feet up in the air, causing her own robe to fall down to her backside, almost – but not quite – revealing what she was wearing underneath.

She looked up when he entered and a brilliant smile lit up her face. "Your Highness! You're back!" she gushed, leaping to her feet and moving over to him. She pushed the door shut and pressed against him. "I am Ga– I mean, I am Topaz – but you probably remember that from a week ago. Do you want to get started right away?"

"Yes, please," he said, eyeing her hungrily. She was even prettier than he remembered. The girl had wavy, blonde hair that fell past her shoulder blades, dark blue eyes, and creamy, flawless skin. She was curvy and full, but not quite plump. She was wearing make-up and her long nails were painted in a pale pink colour, the glitters in them catching the light as she moved.

Topaz giggled and turned away from him, looking coyly over her shoulder as she let the robe fall down to pool at her feet. Beneath it, she was wearing a set of pink, lacy undergarments and Fiyero's grin nearly split his face in two as he pushed away from the door. This was going to be one wonderful night.

Galinda Upland left her room at the end of the night and slunk down the hallway, slipping through the door at the end of it. She paused for a moment, trying to determine whether the person in the bed across the room was awake or not. "Elphie?" she whispered.

"Glin?" came the weak reply and the blonde went further into the room, sinking down in the armchair by the bed. Her friend was curled in a ball, arms wrapped around herself. Her dark eyes seemed enormous in her face, which was pale and gaunt, and Galinda sighed and reached for Elphaba's hand.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently, but Elphaba just shook her head. Galinda squeezed the green hand in hers. "Physical or emotional pain?"

"Both," the green girl whispered, closing her eyes for a moment.

Galinda climbed onto the bed with her friend, hugging her carefully from behind. "I'm so sorry, Elphie."

"It's all right. It's better than yesterday." Elphaba's voice was flat, though. "And I knew this would happen from the start. It's what always happens."

That much, at least, Galinda mused, was true. She had just never expected it to happen to her best friend. Looking at Elphaba now, she felt so sorry for her. The other girl truly did look bad and it was like the spark had disappeared from her dark brown eyes.

Galinda kissed Elphaba's cheek. "Get some more rest, Elphie," she murmured. "You'll feel better soon, I promise. If you need anything, just call for me, all right? I'll be back in the morning to check up on you."

"Thanks, Glin," Elphaba whispered, closing her eyes again; and Galinda gave her one final smile before sneaking out of the room again. She closed the door softly behind her and returned to her own room, wishing there was more she could do to help her friend… wishing both their lives were different.

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