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Disclaimer: I don't own the musical, the script, the lyrics, or anything else that belongs to Wicked and Co. This is just a bit of fun.

A/N: I didn't intend for it to take this long to get the next chapter ready, but it ended up being much longer than I anticipated, plus I've been extremely busy at work! Anyway, thanks to those who have already reviewed. Those of you reading who haven't, I'd love to hear what you think. In the meantime, read and enjoy!

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Chapter 2: Room Assignments

A booming voice silenced those gathered on the terrace. "Welcome, new students!" Madame Morrible, the headmistress, stood in the entrance to the main building the large oak doors framing her authoritative figure. Her introduction was swift and to the point, although somewhat despairing over the capabilities of her latest assignment of pupils.

She continued her traditional welcoming speech, but on hearing mention of room assignments, Elphaba raised her hand politely as did the blonde. As always in her life, she was overlooked. The squeaky pale brat stepped forward and struck a pose befitting of some tacky fashion model. The other students 'oooh' and 'aaah' at her; Elphaba snorted and rolled her eyes.

Seconds into her public announcement, it was clear she had no such issues regarding room, just an uncontrollable urge to inform the entire school of her private sleeping arrangements, rubbing everyone else's noses in her 'upper' social status. However disappointed they may have been not to be able to share with this self-important blonde, they were all happy enough to settle with an open invitation to visit her dwellings whenever they so wished.

But a private apartment? She had been given a private apartment?

There were only five such apartments available at Shiz, reserved for members of royalty and such, and as far as Elphaba had deduced from the gossip, and there had been plenty, four of the five apartments were already occupied – two rooms were allocated to the son and daughter of the President of The Glikkus, while descendents of Vinkus and Quadling aristocracy occupied the two others, leaving only one vacant apartment for the new intake of first years.

One vacant room, which by rights, should have been hers and Nessarose's. They needed it out of necessity, not pure vanity. What was going on?

The months leading up to their arrival at Shiz, she knew her father had kept continuous correspondence with Madame Morrible in an attempt to ensure Nessarose's smooth transition into her new life. Many of his letters had been to finalise suitable living arrangements for his most precious daughter, but apparently they had been to no avail.

Galinda caught the tentative step the green girl took towards her and the headmistress and quickly guided her mentor away. Elphaba stood patiently waiting for her to shut up, but she persevered with her obviously rehearsed buttering-up routine. Although at the mention of her essay Magic Wands: Need They Have A Point, Madame Morrible lost all interest, and who could blame her? The title was laughable, the content could only follow suit.

Elphaba found herself suddenly feeling very sorry for the faculty members that had to read through such dribble in search of their new acceptable students. And if that was the standard, then the Unnamed God help the teachers that would be responsible for educating this bunch of brainless scholars.

Galinda, dejected, had headed back to her sheep to discuss her encounter, and Elphaba was quick to start talking before the blonde began rambling about some other random subject. "Madame Morrible," she called out, her hand in the air to grab her attention. "We've not received our room assignments yet."

"Oh yes, yes!" She closed the gap between them. "You must be Miss Nessarose, the governor's daughter. Oh my, what a tragically beautiful face you have!" she smiled, her intonation much like Galinda's a few moments previous. Nessarose revelled in the attention, but Elphaba grunted, drawing unwanted attention on herself.

"Ah." Madame Morrible looked her up and down. "And you must be…"

"Elphaba." She extended her hand, as was custom when meeting new people, but it was shunned, Morrible not wanting to associate too much with the 'troublesome daughter' as Frex had referred to her. "I'm the other daughter. I'm beautifully tragic."

"Yes, he mentioned you. I'm sure you're very bright," she grinned, but her tone was derogatory.

The bratty princess could not resist the perfect opportunity for a dig in front of the whole school. "Bright? She's phosphorescent." Her sheep giggled loudly, but Elphaba ignored them.

"The governor made his concern for your sister's well being quite apparent. So, I thought it would be best if she shared my private compartment where I can assist her as needed…"

"But Madame," she protested, "I've always looked after my sister." She always had and she always would, it was her destiny, her calling, her duty. Her punishment. Nothing was going to change that, or so she thought. Even Nessarose was hushing her into silence, excited of the suggestion just put to them.

A dramatic "oooh" ceased the sisters' arguments. "A slight gulch, but not to fret! We'll find someplace to put you."

Elphaba went to protest, but it was too late. The headmistress had already gathered the attention of the students, well most of them. Galinda was still nattering (or should that be 'baa-ing'?) with one of her sheep. "Now, which one of you young ladies would like to volunteer to share with Miss Elphaba?"

Immediately she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, or for some uncontrollable wind to fly by and carry her off to some far away land where she would be spared the impending humiliation. So many times she'd be argued over for team sports. If only it had been because they had wanted her on their team. But no, she would have to stand and wait, the last one to be picked, while the team captains argued over her should have her, because they were adamant they would not. And now it was about to happen again.

Elphaba watched in slow-motion horror as the bubble-headed blonde raised her hand and called for Madame Morrible, her intention to get another pointless question answered, not volunteer her private living space. No matter to Morrible though. "So, you see Miss Elphaba, you can room with Miss Galinda! To your dormitories everyone!"

She stood open-mouthed, her new roommate imitating her reaction. Of all the people in all of Oz she had to be landed with this materialistic, status-chasing, self-absorbed, dumb white chick! She'd rather take a long cold shower, and that was saying something! Madame Morrible must be out of her senses.

Elphaba was at Shiz for one reason, and it was not to bunk with some semi-rich socialite from the Gillikin. She was here to look after Nessarose. It was her job, not the job of some strange woman they had just met. If her father discovered what had happened, how she'd broken her promise…

She had to get her sister back. She was going to take care of her just as she always had, and no headmistress was going to get in her way. How dare this old woman interfere? Injustice burned inside her, growing in intensity with every step Madame Morrible took, escorting her sister further away. The burning was eating her up.

The feeling was seldom, but instantly recognisable. It was happening all over again.

Eerie silence surrounded her, some unknown force blocking out the near-by chatter. Everything faded to darkness. Time stopped still as she stood motionless, waiting for the all-consuming powers to take control from within. An extraordinarily deep breath brought to her body the final element to release the energy within.

The mysterious force now had control of her. There was nothing she could do but watch as it unfurled its latest disaster.

"Let her go!" Her voice held a strange tone that scared herself as much as the students around her.

Blinding rage shot from her fingers, only for the first time it sought out only Nessarose's chair. It did no harm to anyone else on the way. Elphaba was relieved. This was not the time or the place for a repeat of past occurrences. The wheelchair ripped itself from Madame Morrible's clutch and sped away.

A piercing shriek from the headmistress sent those gathered into a panic. Everyone fled screaming and crying. Students crashed into each other as they ran blindly trying to escape the unpredictable movements of the possessed wheelchair. It continued to spin wildly across the courtyard, and eventually came to a stop by Elphaba's side, the energy draining from the chair as swiftly as it drained from its administrator.

Those still around remained silent. And fearful. All eyes were on her.

Nessarose glared at her, sparkles of hatred dancing in her eyes. Surprise and disbelief kept Galinda's mouth open. The young man at her side, a Munchkinlander by the name of Boq, seemed somewhat curious of her actions, while a young Quadling girl was frightened into unconsciousness.

Madame Morrible meanwhile stood grinning at the governor's other daughter, excited that such unleashed talented potential had displayed itself much sooner than she had anticipated. This green girl's abilities were just what she and her associates were looking for, and with a few years of her expert tutorage, she could go a long way.

"Elphaba! You promised it would be different this time!" Nessa screamed, defiantly wheeling herself away as Elphaba chased after her. The loud and swift departure broke the trance everyone was in, and while most students fled as fast as their feet would allow, several students flocked to Nessarose's side.

Elphaba was sure that most were there out of pity for the crippled girl, the others were no doubt just curious about her freakish green sister. Something good had come from the erratic power display; at least they were speaking to her, accepting her. She couldn't ask for anything more for her sister.

Funny how her sister's non-functional legs made her more acceptable to these people than her own green skin did, yet she was the one that could go running of to whatever party they wanted to go to, if she so chose to accept such an invitation. A small entourage now followed Nessarose, and she couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of the attention.

"I'm sorry Nessa." She gave up her pursuit when her pleading apologies were ignored. "I didn't mean it to happen, honest. It just happened," she added sadly.

"You mean this has happened before?" Madame Morrible questioned, her suspicions of a possible coincidence suddenly evaporating. This girl had definite potential.

"Kind of. I guess, well… yes." She hung her head. "Something just comes over me. I'll try to control myself from now on. I'm sorry."

"No! Never apologize for talent dear! Talent is a gift!" A hand landed on Elphaba's shoulder and guided her away from the building a short distance. "Have you ever considered a career in sorcery?"

"Sorcery?" she whispered, unable to believe her ears. She had never considered a career in anything, let alone something as complex and skilled as sorcery.

"I shall tutor you privately, and take no other students!" Elphaba stood silent in amazement, although the peppy blonde's disgusted huff did not go unnoticed before she disappeared to her no longer private apartment to stew.

Never had anyone shown such interest in her before, let alone offered to privately educate her and advance her skills. The breath-constricting grip Madame Morrible had on her made it obvious her headmistress had more to say. The last stragglers entered Shiz Hall, leaving teacher and pupil completely alone.

"Many years I have waited for a gift like yours to appear," she began, pacing in a circle around her apprentice, deep in thought. Suddenly she stopped, her finger no longer tapping her chin. "Why, I predict the Wizard could make you his magic, Grand Vizier!"

"The Wizard?" Elphaba whispered, the sound barely escaping her lips.

Madame Morrible stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "My dear, my dear, I'll write at once to the Wizard, tell him of you in advance. With a talent like yours dear, there is, a defin-ish chance, if you work as you should, you'll be making good!"

With that, the headmistress headed back to the main building, hurrying along a few late arrivals leaving Elphaba alone to consider her announcement. All her life she had dreamed of meeting the Wizard, and now she had the chance.

Her sole purpose, unlike Miss Galinda's, had been to look after Nessarose, not to study or become good at anything. But with Madame Morrible taking care of Nessarose, she had been given that one chance. Someone finally believed in her enough to take away the responsibility of her sister's care and allow her to expand her own education, master skills that would offend her father, but could give her untold opportunities in the future.

Now, succession at Shiz could spell out her ultimate dream – to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!