A Foster Child—A Wicked Witch
What if Elphaba was a foster child instead of being raised by Frex?
Elphaba's POV
I still remember the day I was taken away from my family—I only counted Nessarose as my family in Munchkinland. I have never really gotten over it—and I still want to go home and be with the person who was really my family. I miss my little sister, Nessarose. Thankfully, I still have everything that I left home with—the little green bottle that my mother gave me—now I keep it to remember both her and the Wizard—my real father—and the photo album of me and my mother. I also still have the stuffed scarecrow that the Wizard gave me.
—Flashback—
I'd just gotten Nessa into bed for a nap—she was pretty tired—and Father had agreed with me that she should take a nap. The Gale Force arrived and the captain said, "We're looking for Elphaba Thropp." I looked at Father and said, "Father, what's going on?" Father knelt down in front of me and said, "Elphaba, the government thinks that I can't take care of you anymore. They're going to put you into foster care for a little bit. Don't worry, someday you will come home." I nodded and gathered my things together—including things I'd kept hidden from Father. I grabbed enough clothes to last me however long I'd be gone. I grabbed a coat and put it on, knowing I'd want to stay warm. I picked up the little green bottle that my mother had given me to remember her by, and put it carefully into my coat pocket. I grabbed the photo album of me and my mother. I put in my bag and prepared to leave. I crept silently past Nessa and, pushing her hair away from her, said, "Sleep well, sister mine." I gently kissed her forehead and then went downstairs and said, "Father, I'm ready." He walked over to me and pressed his hand on my shoulder. I clung to his arm and whispered, "When will I come home?" He shook his head and carefully handed me over to the Captain of the Gale Force. Fighting tears, I walked outside and was loaded into a carriage. I looked at the Captain and asked, "Where are you taking me?" "To the Wizard," he said evenly. "Will I go home someday?" I asked—that was all I cared about—getting home to Nessarose. "Probably not," he said honestly. I bit my lip, sucked in a deep breath, and said, "Nessa needs me—more than you know. I have to go home for her." "Just be quiet, kid," I was told roughly. I nodded and we soon reached the Emerald City. I was handed over to the Wizard and I said, "I wanna go home." The Wizard sighed and said, "I wish I could help you, child." I nodded and he said, "Elphaba Thropp, this is Emilia Riddle—you know her brother, Boq Riddle—your childhood friend. She will be your social worker." I nodded and repeated myself. "I wanna go home." Emilia hugged me and said, "Elphaba, I'm sorry you got taken away. We're just trying to protect you." I nodded and she said, "Tonight, you'll stay with the Wizard until further notice." I nodded again and carefully went to the room I'd been given for the night and however long I stayed with the Wizard. Later, the Wizard saw me pull my mother's bottle out of my coat pocket. "Where did you get that?" he asked almost immediately after seeing the bottle, peering intently at me, and pointing to the bottle in my hand. I looked at it, and said, "It was my mother's. It, along with that photo album, is the last thing I have of her. I miss her." He walked over to me and said, "I gave her that bottle originally." I stared at him and whispered, "Daddy?" The Wizard grabbed me and hugged me tightly and gently, whispering to me, "My daughter. My little girl." I hugged him back and whispered, "I wanna see Nessarose again." He nodded and said, "I'll see to it that you will be permitted contact with your sister, but no contact with Frexspar." I nodded and decided not to push my luck.
—end flashback—
