woodland59: YYYYYEEEEEESSSSS SSSSSHHHHHEEEEE IIIIIIISSSSSS! LOL!

ExoticPeachBlossom: I would love to be Yero's Little Hero again! I just read the new chapter… I think I should be Elphie's Little Hero now. LOL! Thanks for the review!

Elphaba'sGirl: Yup! I was planning on some later Fiyeraba when they got older.

TheWickedrae: *Hands out soldier gear* We're ready! Frex is going down!

NellytheActress: They'll be back. Fiyero's parents are the King and Queen of the Vinkus and Galinda's parents are the Duke and Duchess of the Gillikin.

Elphaba Thropp of Fiyero: Thank you so much!


The carriage ride to the Emerald City Palace was long. Elphaba held her doll against her chest, very nervous about what was going to happen next. She felt her father place a comforting hand on her lap, making her smile. Not only did she have to process the fact that Frex wasn't her father, but also the fact that the Wizard of Oz was her father. It was a lot to process for a six-year-old.

"We're here, Fabala," the Wizard said.

Elphaba looked up at him, surprised by hearing her old nickname. "What?" she asked.

"Did you mother ever call you 'Fabala'?" the Wizard asked.

Elphaba nodded. "She did."

"We came up with that nickname together," the Wizard smiled, looking out the window.

After a few minutes, the carriage began to slow down. Elphaba began to squirm in her seat. The Wizard lifted her up and sat her on his knee and smiled. He felt a sting of pity for Elphaba. He knew that her life probably wasn't the easiest. She lost her mother and was moving into a new house. It would take a lot of getting used to.

When the carriage finally stopped, the Wizard opened the door and climbed out, with Elphaba still on his shoulder. He walked up the stairs and open the doors.

"They're here!" a voice said in a loud whisper from the kitchen. Elphaba heard the sounds of brooms dropping and feet shuffling into the front foyer. She tightened her grip around her father.

"It's okay," the Wizard whispered, rubbing small circles on her back.

"Your Ozness," the head maid, Celina, greeted, curtsying.

"Hello, Celina," the Wizard smiled. "Everyone," he said, looking around the room at all of the maids and servants, "this is my daughter, Elphaba."

Elphaba looked up and forced a small smile on her face.

"Miss Elphaba," Celina curtsied. "Mollie is getting her room ready."

"Thank you," he said as he carried Elphaba up the stairs.

The Wizard walked up the stairs and opened the door to Elphaba's room. Mollie was finishing making Elphaba's bed. She was wearing an emerald green maid's uniform. Her reddish hair was pulled back in a bun. She heard the door open and turned around to see the Wizard standing in the doorway with a little green girl in his arms.

"Welcome home, Your Ozness," Mollie curtsied.

"Thank you, Mollie. Elphaba, this is Mollie. She will be your personal maid. If you need or want anything, don't hesitate to ask her."

"Okay," Elphaba whispered, still very tired from her journey.

"Mollie, Elphaba is ready for bed now," the Wizard said, handing Elphaba over to Mollie. Elphaba groaned, but didn't protest.

Mollie smiled and nodded as she held Elphaba. The Wizard kissed his daughter's forehead and left the room.

Mollie gently set Elphaba on the floor as she went to get a nightgown for her. Elphaba turned, following the sound of her footsteps. She took a small step forward, wondering if she could trust the woman who was supposed to be her maid. Elphaba never had a maid before. In Munchkinland, she was a maid to her father and sister. Her days were filled with chores, from washing the windows, doing the laundry, sweeping the floors, and getting yelled at by Frex if she did anything wrong.

Mollie set Elphaba's dark purple nightgown on the bed and turned around. She walked towards Elphaba and took her hand. Elphaba pulled away, still deciding on whether or not she could trust her.

"It's alright, Miss Elphaba. It's time for your bath," Mollie said, reaching for Elphaba's hand again.

Elphaba began to relax. Mollie's voice sounded soft and sweet, almost like her mother's. She gave her hand to Mollie and they walked to bathroom together.

After her bath, Mollie carried Elphaba back to her room. Elphaba was wrapped in a towel, slightly shivering from the evening air in the hallway.

"Would you like your doll, Miss Elphaba?" Mollie asked as they entered the room.

Elphaba nodded as she rested her head against Mollie's shoulder. Mollie sat her down on the bed as she pulled the nightgown over her head. She quickly walked over to Elphaba's dresser and grabbed her doll. She handed it to Elphaba, who took it gratefully.

"Thank you," she whispered, her shy gaze on the floor.

"You're welcome, Miss," Mollie said, tucking Elphaba into bed and walking out.

"Mollie!" Elphaba called as Mollie walked out.

"Yes?" Mollie asked, turning around.

Elphaba sat up and played with her doll's hair. "C-Can you stay with me tonight?" she asked shyly.

"Of course," Mollie smiled, pulling up a chair next to Elphaba's bed. Elphaba laid back down, closing her eyes and trying to go to sleep. She felt Mollie brush stray hairs away from her face. All of a sudden, she heard humming. It was Mollie. She was humming her a lullaby. A small smile appeared on Elphaba's lips as she remembered how her mother would sing her a lullaby.


Elphaba woke up early the next morning. "Mollie?" she asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

Mollie didn't answer, so Elphaba figured she had left sometime during the night. She hugged her doll as she slid out of bed. She turned her head, trying to remember where the door was. After sliding her hand against the wall, she finally found it and slipped out of her room.

She slowly walked down the long hallways of the Emerald City Palace, exploring her new home. She stopped when she felt a gap in the wall. She walked into the room, wondering what was inside.

She continued to walk forward until her fingers grazed the window.

"Here now, what's this?" a voice said from behind her.

Elphaba stiffened, recognizing that the voice belonged to the Wizard. She heard him walk towards her, and she quickly moved away.

"It's okay, Fabala. I'm not going to hurt you," the Wizard said, his voice warm and comforting.

"I'm s-sorry," Elphaba whimpered. "I know I'm not supposed to be here and –"

"Fabala," the Wizard said, wrapping Elphaba in his arms. "You're not in trouble. I'm not mad at you. This is your home. You have every right to wander through the halls as you wish."

Elphaba smiled. She was never given that much freedom before. For the first time in her life, she felt important. She felt protected. She felt wanted. She felt… loved.

"Come, it's time for breakfast," the Wizard said as she started to lift Elphaba into his arms.

"No," Elphaba whispered, gently wiggling in his arms.

The Wizard, though shocked, put Elphaba down. Elphaba turned and groped back to the door.

She wants to do it herself, the Wizard smiled as he followed behind Elphaba.

Elphaba, the Wizard quickly found out, was a very smart girl. She quickly found the grand staircase leading to the great hall and gracefully walked down the steps. Her little hands were clutching the railing for dear life, as if she thought that with the next step, she was going to fall into a hole. The Wizard put a hand on her shoulder, but Elphaba gently pulled away. She wanted to do it herself.

She smiled when she reached the bottom. "Father?" she asked, turning her head and reaching for her father's hand.

The Wizard smiled and wiped a tear from his eye as he grasped Elphaba's small, green hand. Elphaba smiled as she and her father walked to breakfast.


*IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! PLEASE READ!* The Seventh Annual Greg Awards are here! This year, the lovely hostess is Glitter-Bunnii. If you go to her profile, you can click on the story for the rules. I already received 3 nominations for 'Most Humorous Author' and 1 nomination for 'Best One-Shot Author' Special thanks to those who nominated me! It means so much to me! Nominations must be in by December 30, 2013! THANKS FOR READING!