As for Nessarose, it was a tragic ending she came to. But it was poised and neat and rather something from a fantasy story - just like her. Too bad no one mourns the wicked, eh?

It was hard for me to believe what Nessa had become. My only sister, my fragile little sister, turned into a tyrant. She'd become worse than father with her religious garble - she was religion! But then, I suppose this was my fault, wasn't it? Wherever she is, with her Unnamed God or perhaps just dust, she will always blame me.

I left her.

Her!

Aren't you so angry? She acts as if it is all about her. She didn't know me, she didn't know what I was fleeing - it certainly wasn't my crippled, bossy little sister.

Why did she want me around anyone? What was the point of a green sister? I knew she was ashamed of me. She never introduced me as "her sister", she took every opportunity to go alone, and no matter how much slower it would be.

You remember, Nessa's been crippled since birth. Tragic for my family, really. One green, one in a wheelchair. Good thing little brother Shell turned out right - or maybe that's my family's curse, tragedy with birth. My mother did die the night she bore him.

I think Nessa liked Boq, don't you? She gazed at him so adoringly. I think he paid more attention her when you changed, when he lost his infatuation. He was ever so concerned about her, sweet to the very bone.

But Nessa - and I, too - we ruined him. I didn't mean to. I was trying to save his life! Nessa had enchanted that damned axe for some Munchkinland visitor, and it nearly hit Boq while on path to its real target- and I don't think well under pressure!

So Boq is known as the Tin Man now. And he has no love for Milla, his wife, his children - and certainly none for me. He believes me dead, and he rejoices. I begin to think he has lost more than his heart in the change.

My parents were named Melena and Frex. Melena was of the Thropps, which is why Nessa became such a tyrant. You see, the Thropps kind of ... governed Munchkinland from their stronghold at Colwen Gardens. And Nessa eventually gathered so much power she convinced Munchkinland to secede from Oz! Terrible mess, getting it back in after that house fell on her.

Tragic.

Melena was never a mother to me. I am just the same as her in some ways. Nessa wasn't Frex's child - he was a man named Turtle Heart, who passed our house one day and Melena let him in. I think both my parents fell in love with him. I stayed weary. Turtle Heart has given me a looking glass. And it was from him I learned my first word - "Horrors".

I can't exactly say Frex was a terrible father. Or he wasn't always. I think, after he got past the color of my skin, he realized I wasn't sent to punish him - I was his daughter. He nicknamed me Fabala, which not a soul ever called me. It made me happy, to have a special nickname. He used to hug me, and be my father. He might have even loved me, once.

But then the rainstorm came. Now, ever since I was little I wouldn't go near water, or let water touch me. I was instinctively afraid.

One day, Frex got so fed up with me - he wanted me to have some fun, dance in the rain or something - he pushed me outside into the light sprinkle.

I had to stay in for days while my fever cooled, while the red welts disappeared.

He never touched me again.

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To my reviewers:

Veronika Green - thank you! I like to hear "different".

IamTheWitch - Thanks :)

sesshomaruobsessed - Thank you

Yero my hero - I'm glad you think so. I love to invoke diversity. :)

Kennedy Leigh Morgan - Thank you so much! I really like your reviews, they're very descriptive. Give me a good idea of what to write next.