Chapter 2: From One's Burden to Another's

Author's Note: To be honest, coming up with ideas is hard for me so thanks for sticking around! You are being warned: this transitional chapter is kind of fluffy, sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Wicked Years or any of the characters. The character Russell Lancaster is fictional and my creation, and if you happen to know anybody of the same name, it's a coincidence. Sorry for any mistakes in advance. Thanks again!

"Take care, Russell, I'll pick you up at the end of the summer. Don't forget to send me your flight information a week before, okay?" his mother reminded him.

I guess the jump was just a dream, Russell thought.


"Gen'ral Kynot, what should we do with him? He ain't even waking on up," a Wren called Dosey cheeped. An army of Birds flew close together, holding up the dead weight of the young man they had just caught who fell from nowhere. Quick on his feet, General Kynot came up with an idea, mainly because the boy was wearing them down tremendously.

"I can't tell if this kid is dead or alive, but I sure know someone who could. It will be a couple days' trip, but we will bring this human to Shiz University, just north of the Emerald City. I've heard of a Goat called Doctor Dillamond – he's a master of the Life Sciences, and he should know what to do with the boy."

Almost two days past until the flock of Birds reached Shiz. Hovering over campus, and drawing much attention to them, General Kynot opted to ask the person available that stood out the most to him.

Elphaba Thropp sat against a tree on campus, reading her Unionist articles, when nearly twenty Birds landed in front of her with a boy on their backs.

"Holy – can I help you?" Elphaba said calmly, trying not to act surprised at the Birds, especially the large Cliff Eagle that appeared to be their leader.

"I'm, or we're, looking for a Doctor Dillamond, Miss, do you know him?" General Kynot asked, almost breathless.

"Yes, I know him, I study under him. Why do you need him?" she asked, although she figured it may have to do with the boy they harboured.

"Well, Miss, we found this boy and deemed that only the good Doctor could help him, so bring him to the Doctor for us? Thanks!" yelled the Cliff Eagle as the flock rolled the young man off their backs and flew off almost instantaneously.

"Hey, wait!" Elphaba tried to call back, but the army of Birds were either too high to hear, or were high enough to ignore her.

A group of students stood gawking at the sight with faces that read 'typical of the green girl'. Elphaba hissed at them to make them shoo in fear as she grabbed the boy by his elbows and dragged him to her room. Why does Doctor Dillamond have to be gone for a conference right now? Elphaba grumbled in her head. Her best bet was to just take the boy to her dorm and hope that Madame Morrible would not hear a word of the incident.

"Won't our little Galinda just be absolutely surprised…," Elphaba murmured sarcastically.