Wow! I'm so glad people love this story. ExoticPeachBlossom wrote this chapter. We're alternating writing chapter. Next week, I'll write the chapter. Updates will be on Fridays.
Elphaba'sGirl: I know, I know. Me and my stories where something horrible happens to Elphaba...
I'mFlyingHighDefyingGravity: She was born blind and deaf, but Melena and Frex didn't notice until she was two months old.
NellytheActress: No! Absolutely not!
The Wizard Of Wicked: I'm having writer's block on 'Adventures in Parenting', so it might be a while. Sorry!
The official carriage to the Governor of Munchkinland pulled up to the cast iron gates of Shiz University. The driver, a short, pudgy Munchkin, hopped down from the seat, and, dusting off his garbs, stepped towards the door. Reaching for it, his small, pudgy hand curled around the handle and just as he was about to pull the door open and announce their journey's end, the door suddenly flung open, knocking him back.
Elphaba, now nineteen, bounced out of the carriage, a wide smile on her face as her feet touched the ground. Giggling, she slowly walked forward towards the gate, groping in her world of darkness.
"Fabala!" came a scolding voice. Frex stepped out of the carriage, his dark eyes all but glare at his eldest daughter. Straightening his robes, he stepped up beside her and, grasping her arm, turned her towards him. Taking her hand, he signed into her palm, and with each motion he made, the more Elphaba's frown deepened.
Grunting, Elphaba wrenched her hand free from her father's and, pressing both hands against his shoulders, pushed him away from her.
"Fabala," Frex sighed.
"Give her space, Father," came a soft voice.
Turning, Frex's face relaxed as he watched his youngest, Nessarose, step out of the carriage. A wide smile was painted on her soft, pale pink lips as she stepped next to her father.
"Nessa," Frex sighed.
"You know Fabala. She hates to be babied." Giggling, Nessa turned her attention towards her sister, wandering towards the gate, one hand swaying back and forth, the other clenched tight against her side.
"Yes, I know," Frex replied solemnly.
"Now, away with that!" a grave voice called.
Frex barely had a chance to respond before a heavy suitcase was shoved hard against his chest, knocking the wind from his gut. Coughing, he turned and glared back at Nanny, who stood beside Nessa, admiring the buildings and completely ignoring Frex's glare.
"Was that really necessary?" Frex grumbled, regaining his breath.
"I beg your pardon?" Nanny asked, confused.
"You heard me."
"Frex!" Nanny scolded. "How many times have I told you to stop mumbling under your breath? It's rude and un-becoming of a gentleman of your stature."
"And slamming a suitcase in my gut is?" Frex asked incredulously.
"Will you two stop!?" Nessa cried. "Oz… I swear you two act like squabbling children more than adults."
"She was mainly referring to you," Nanny smirked as she leaned forward towards Frex.
"She meant the both of us," Frex muttered.
Growling, Nessa angrily nudged her father in the gut. Sighing, she turned towards the gate, and her eyes widened. "Has… does anyone know where Fabala went?"
"You think I'm thick, Nessa?" Frex asked, taking another suitcase from the carriage.
"Or blind," Nanny quipped beneath her breath.
"Silence you!" Frex growled. "Your sister is right there by the gate!" He pointed to the gate as he glared back at his youngest daughter and Nanny.
"Father, look," Nessa said, looking at the gate.
Sighing, Frex turned and his eyes widened, for not only was Elphaba not standing where he expected her to be, but the gate was open, and his little frog was missing.
"She was where again?" Nanny asked pointedly.
"Quiet you!" Frex snapped.
Blindly, Elphaba's slender fingers trailed the bars to the cast iron gate. They bumped into the lock and, with a quick once-over, she tugged at it, unlocking it. A click and the gate swung open. A rusty creak echoed against the breeze as the gate's rusted hinges groaned its protests. Giggling at her accomplishment, Elphaba swiftly stumbled her way through the gate. Slowly, her hands rose as she disappeared inside.
Annoyed, Prince Fiyero Tigulaar rolled his eyes and sighed. He had been standing beneath the shade of the Juniper trees, listening to the same boorish conversations he had endured from years past. A giggle of snorts and Fiyero rolled his eyes to the right and settle on the petite blonde standing provocatively close, one slender arm wrapped possessively around his arm, the other resting placid against his chest.
Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands yammered on, spinning her tales of woe, regarding the boorish summer spent with her parents and the countless "parties" she had been force to attend.
She was beautiful in her own right, golden hair with a gentle curl, soft cerulean eyes that sparkled like crystal glass in the sunlight, skin soft as silk and a petite figure. She was a model, an effigy to woman who wished to be her, and to men who wanted to be with her. And although Fiyero liked her a lot, he did not love her, and that alone became a never-ending battle with the blonde who still fool-heartedly believed the Prince was hers.
A snort and Galinda dissolves into a fit of giggles. Sighing, Fiyero turned away. Lazily, his eyes drifted across the scenery of Shiz when a flash of green caught his attention. Stiffening, his gaze shifted back towards the large, stone white fountain placed at the center of the campus and for a moment, he had forgotten how to breathe. For a woman stood there, tall and regal. "Who… who is that?" he muttered.
Stunned, Galinda turned her attention towards Fiyero and frowned. "Fifi, what are you talking about, dearest?"
Avaric, Millie, ShenShen and Pfannee, who had started their own conversations, stilled and shifted their gazes towards the dancing-through-life Prince, standing tall and rigid.
"That girl," Fiyero breathed. "Who is she?"
Scrunching up her face in confusion, Galinda's eyes followed Fiyero's and immediately, she stiffened at the sight of the green girl, standing tall and regal by the fountain. Her long, ebony hair billowed softly around her, accentuating her soft, elegant features. "The green bean?" she sneered, not liking the way her boyfriend was staring at the freak with two legs.
"She's beautiful," Fiyero moaned, ignoring Galinda's non-subtle jab.
"Sure," Avaric snickered. "If you're into vegetables."
Ignoring Avaric, Fiyero awkwardly stepped away, leaving Galinda and the others perplexed.
"Fifi!" Galinda called. Hanging back, she watched as Fiyero stepped up next to the strange girl.
A goofy expression crossed the prince's face as he neared her and his eyes took on a dreamy look, seeing her stand before him, her eyes closed, a soft smile painted on her soft, supple lips.
A light breeze swept past her, tangling in her long, raven locks. A few were picked up by the breeze and billowed majestically behind her. A couple rippled like silk across her face, dancing gracefully against her soft, emerald skin. A soft moan slipped past Elphaba's lips, feeling the eastern breeze caress her skin, and for a moment, she dared to believe that she was defying gravity.
Stilling, Fiyero's hand rose. Fisting lightly against his lips, he coughed softly.
"You lost track of her!" Frex screamed. Angrily, he slammed his fisted hands against his sides as he glared back at Nanny.
"Me?" Nanny asked incredulously. "Since when is it my job to keep an eye on your daughter?"
"You've been taking care of her since the day she was born! You're supposed to watch over her!" Frex snarled.
Sighing, Nessa angrily tapped her foot against the pavement and, crossing her arms, rolled her eyes. Inwardly, she prayed that none of the students had heard this commotion; for this wasn't the kind of "first impression" she wanted others here on campus to see. "Can you two please get off your high horses? Stuff your egos now so we can go and look for Fabala! Before she gets hurt!" she begged.
"She's right," Frex sighed. Turning, his eyes scan the surrounding campus. "Nanny, you go the west. I'll take east. Nessa, you go south."
"South?" Nessa frowned. Oz, she never was good at compass directions.
"Go to the left, dear," Nanny said.
"Oh. Okay."
"First one to find Fabala, bring her back to the carriage. We'll meet up in a half an hour," Frex said.
Nodding, Nanny, and Nessa took off in separate directions.
Sighing, Frex casted his eyes towards the horizon. "Please let her be alright," he prayed before taking off.
Fiyero frowned at the strange girl's lack of response. Sighing, he tried again, coughing into his hand a little louder than the last time. Still, the response was the same. Shrugging it off, he reached for her arm.
Feeling a hand brush against her arm, Elphaba stiffened and her eyes flew open. In a flash, she whirled in the direction of her sudden intrusion.
Startled, Fiyero jumped back. "Whoa! Quick reflexes!" he laughed.
Frowning, Elphaba stood stiff and her eyes narrowed as she waited for whoever dared to bother her to reveal themselves.
"Ah…" Nervously, Fiyero took a step closer. Coughing, his hand rose and cupped the back of his head as his other extended out towards Elphaba. "I'm Fiyero Tigulaar."
Stiffening, Elphaba's hand slowly rose. Blindly, her fingers reached out and bumped against Fiyero's. Grasping tightly onto his hand, she began to explore the stranger standing before her.
Fiyero stilled and his eyes widened, watching the strange green girl's fingers lightly drift over his hand. A soft giggle and her fingers rose and playfully bumped against his knuckles and encircled his wrist. He shivered, feeling the tips of her fingers lightly trace his wrist, his eyes fluttering closed and his heart thundering loud in his chest. "You're not shy at all," he laughed. "Are you?"
Stepping closer, Elphaba's fingers moved slowly up his arm and over his shoulder.
"Hey…" Fiyero started, but was silenced, feeling her hands trail up his neck and over his face.
A soft smile pulled at the edges of Elphaba's soft lips as her fingers trailed over Fiyero's eyes, across his nose and across his cheek. Stepping closer, her other hand rose and gently padded against Fiyero's lips.
"Hi," Fiyero smiled.
Frowning, Elphaba's hand lowered and pressed against her mouth. Mindlessly, her lips moved, trying to mimic the movements made by the stranger standing before her.
"Can't you talk?" Fiyero asked, noticing her actions.
Stepping closer, Elphaba's lifted her hand to Fiyero's lips once more and pressed her other hand against her lips. Turning to the side, she moved her lips again, trying to mimic his movements once more.
"You can't talk, can you?" Fiyero whispered.
Slowly, Elphaba turned her head towards Fiyero and he gasped, for her eyes, though beautiful, were dead. No light shimmered within them, only emptiness. "You're blind," he whispered. He was about to touch her, when a voice stopped him.
"Fabala!"
Stiffening, Fiyero jerked away, his eyes widening at the sight of an elderly woman marching towards him. Death glimmered in her eyes and, for a moment, the young prince feared for his life.
"There you are, you little frog!" Reaching her, Nanny angrily grabbed a hold of Elphaba's wrist and spun her around.
Moaning, Elphaba thrashed in Nanny's arms, trying to get away from her.
"Be still, you! Do you have any idea how worried your father and I were?" the old woman cried.
"Err… excuse me, but… " Fiyero started.
Angrily, Nanny's head snapped up and she glared at Fiyero. Spinning Elphaba behind her, she stepped up closer to him. "And you!" Angrily, she jabbed a finger into Fiyero's chest. "Just what in Oz did you think you were doing? Touching little frog like that! Why, you're lucky her father wasn't here to see this!"
Frowning, Fiyero's eyes drifted towards Elphaba, thrashing against Nanny's hold. Small whimpers slipped past her lips as she angrily batted at the elderly woman's hands. "Err… I'm sorry," he replied, stunned.
"You should be," Nanny snorted. Spinning around, she roughly led Elphaba away. "Come, little frog."
Frozen, Fiyero watched as the old woman dragged the green girl away.
Megan's Corner of Useless Information Fact #1:
The mantis shrimp is a beautiful creature that has a rainbow colored visage, is small, strong and majestic, and truly a sign from nature that awesomeness doesn't depend on size. It also shoots boiling water from its claws. Okay, Okay, not quite the thing you'd expect from this adorable kingly creature, but it is SO COOL.
It smacks its claws together really fast, with a lot of force, and this puts a lot of pressure on the water around it, making it move faster, pick up energy and heat, and generally creating a storm of super-heated water-spray right into the face (or around the area of) its target, effectively dropping it out for the count.
To sum it up, it basically punches the water with its little death pincers, at the speed of a bullet, creating shock waves/sound waves, and heats up the water TOTALLY DESTROYING ITS OPPONENT. As you can obviously tell, I like this little sucker.
So there is some badass tiny shrimp with a glorious exoskeleton made of beautiful colors of the rainbow that roasts it's pray with boiling hot water it shoots from (around) its claws. I may not be a good judge of character, but this is one awesome shrimp.
Basically, never mess with the Mantis Shrimp. It favors dismemberment.
-Mandibles and Cookies,
That person who occasionally likes to take over Nia's computer and if you don't know me by now I am apparently her "imaginary friend with an obsession of Dragons and deadly creatures that look cute or are just deadly and hats". Long title, I know, basically I steal Nia's computer sometimes, help her (only occasionally plan her stories sometimes) and you can all call me Mags.