Earlier this year I started a story called Fifty Shades of Green, which was fifty moments throughout Elphaba's life. I ended up getting rid of it, because I realised I wasn't going to be able to do it in the format I had set up. But I felt terribly guilty and vowed to redo it, in a way that would work, which is this.
The premise is the same, but instead of each moment being a chapter, it's a drabble (100 words). This is my first attempt at drabbles, so if I'm doing something wrong, let me know. I won't mind. There will be five drabbles per chapter, with each chapter focusing on a different time period in Elphie's life. I know it's not quite the same as the original, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway.
Melena ran the brush through her daughter's hair. Despite her verdigris, she loved Elphaba. This act was not something that mothers in families like hers usually did, but Melena had insisted upon it.
Elphaba placed her green hand on her mother's swollen belly. It hadn't been long, but it was still clear that Melena was pregnant. And Elphaba, at two years old, knew enough about what was happening and was excited about meeting her younger brother or sister.
Melena was excited too. But she was also sad. As soon as the baby arrived, somehow she knew these moments would end.
Elphaba had never seen her father this angry before. She knew he hadn't wanted her around for this. And the baby had come too soon. But his expression told her there was another reason he was cross.
She had stayed in her room, like she had been told, even after Nanny left when it was clear something was wrong. But after a while her longing to see her new sibling got the better of her, and she made her way to her parents' bedroom.
From what she could see, it could be worse. Her sister could've been born without arms.
As she headed towards the door, Elphaba bumped the bedside table. A rattling noise was heard and it could only be coming from inside the drawer.
Knowing she wasn't supposed to be in her mother's bedroom anyway, Elphaba didn't think twice and pulled the drawer open. Inside was a funny little green bottle, which Elphaba recognised instantly. It had belonged to her mother.
Her mother had been the only person who had loved her for who she was. She slipped the bottle into her pocket, knowing from now on, she would always have a piece of her mother with her.
"What in Oz happened?"
"I don't know!" she cried.
Elphaba had been ecstatic when he father announced she could finally attend school. But disaster had struck earlier today.
The teacher had been talking of plans already in motion. Plans to deny the Animals of their rights. Elphaba had been so upset at the news that – something happened. She didn't know what, only that she was responsible.
"I want no more of this. Whatever it is," Frex was firm. "Conceal it. Don't feel it. Understood?"
Elphaba bit her lip and nodded. It went without saying that she wasn't returning to school.
Elphaba didn't know when her birthday was.
After her mother died it had never been celebrated. Before that she was too young to know a specific date.
She knew how old she was of course. She was thirteen. This time next year she would be fourteen. But she would never know when she had been born.
Even if she did know, it wouldn't make any difference. The absence of that day was just another example of how she was, and would always be 'the other daughter'.
But she still couldn't help but smile as her sister blew out the candles.
