Dear Yenlay,

I was so thrilled to hear that you're attending Shiz this year, but sad that I couldn't be there to see you off. Last week I came home to visit my family for a bit (did the tree-house get smaller or is that just me?) and stopped by Fede. Everyone misses you terribly, although Purus is particularly devastated. She complained that Fede isn't nearly as interesting without you causing trouble, and I have to agree. It was odd staying in the village for a whole day and not finding a single jawfish in my shoe.

Actually it's probably a good thing that you aren't here right now. Everyone's a little jumpy because the ruby prospectors (your parents included) are complaining about the lack of decent roads between Qhoyre and the Emerald City. Apparently certain officials are considering a new branch of the Yellow Brick Road that would lead straight through Fede on its way to Qhoyre. There's enough political tension here to make your head spin, but so far the discussions are mostly based off rumors.

Life at Zawah University is nice and the dorms are spacious, but I miss my boisterous family and their crowded tree-house. Right now I'm the head of my class, though Zawah is far from the best university in Oz, and that fact has gotten me some attention. Yesterday the Wizard (yes the Wizard) sent me an invitation to speak with him. That's right; I'm going to the Emerald City! My bags are packed and I'm leaving tomorrow for a week long stay in the Emerald Palace (or perhaps longer, depending on what the Great Oz has in store for me). I can scarcely contain my excitement; they say that the Emerald City has one of the most extensive aviaries in Oz (and you know how I am about birds).

Hope to see you soon (even if it means a jawfish in my shoe),

Chistery

Leyen couldn't help chuckling as she finished the letter. Two years at Zawah University in Qhoyre had done nothing to mature Chistery's boyish nature. Clutching the envelope like a lifeline Leyen continued towards her destination. "Galinda?" she called, pounding on the blonde's door. A muffled groan answered her. "Elphaba sent me to get you up," Leyen shouted. "She said you've got a date with Fiyero after Dillamond's class."

A very sleepy Galinda dragged the door open, looking like a bedraggled cat in a rainstorm. She rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"About nine thirty-ish." Her droopy eyes widened.

"Oh shiz!" she cursed, sprinting back into the dorm. "I don't have long to make myself presentable. Thanks for waking me up Leyen."

"It was Elphaba's idea," the southerner insisted, edging away so as not to be caught in a tornado of girl-talk.

"Oh Elphie's so sweet," Galinda gushed.

"Elphie?" Leyen couldn't keep the violent shock out of her voice. She'd understood that Galinda and Elphaba were on better terms than before but 'Elphie'? That word seemed too endearing for the green girl to accept from someone she'd loathed a few days earlier.

"It's my new nickname for Elphaba," the petite girl squealed from her dresser, where an extensive collection of cosmetics were laid out. Her happy tone dampened slightly. "I was so mean to her before, because I didn't realize what a sincerely nice person she is under that green." There was a new level of depth in Galinda's tone; one Leyen had never heard before. Whatever events transpired last night, they had changed her in a very permanent way.

/

The morning after Dr. Dillamond's capture a drama bomb detonated. Rumors flew and the story of what happened grew as it was passed from student to student. Luckily there was a prominent headline in the following day's paper that set everything straight; Animals Banned from Teaching. It was a short piece explaining that many parents felt uneasy about trusting their children's education to teachers of a different species. One sided and lacking in information, the article left Elphaba livid.

"Some people are such ignorant fools!" she ranted to Nessarose, Leyen, and Galinda as they picnicked in the courtyard. "Dr. Dillamond was a genius! Who even passed the Animal Ban?"

"Maybe it was the Wizard," Nessarose piped up, hoping the green girl wouldn't go tornado on her.

"That's preposterous," Elphaba snorted, waving the opinion aside. "I'm sure he doesn't know what's going on."

"The Wizard has nothing against Animals," Leyen agreed, holding up her letter. "He invited my Monkey friend Chistery to the Emerald Palace."

"Why do you think he did that?" Galinda wondered, eager to divert the conversation down less intellectual paths.

"Maybe to offer Chistery a scholarship?" the southerner suggested naively. "Chistery's getting stellar marks but his family can't afford anywhere better than Zawah University." Elphaba wasn't listening; she was too worked up about Dr. Dillamond.

"It's too long!" she burst out suddenly, startling her companions. "The Wizard invited me to see him at the end of the month, but I can't wait that long. Something needs to be done now."

"I think you're blowing this way out of proportion," Leyen insisted, trying to calm her friend. "Dr. Dillamond is just one teacher. I know you were fond of him, but maybe Shiz let him go because of his methods not his species."

"You'll arrange the world however you please just to keep your silly fairy tales intact," Elphaba snapped. "Leyen the world isn't all happiness and butterflies. Bad things, horrible things, happen to good people. You can't go on assuming that everyone always has good intentions."

"The world isn't all conspiracy theories and tyranny either," the blonde retorted, feathers ruffled. "I think you're too suspicious for your own good."

"Calm down you two," Nessarose cried. "Whatever else it might be Dr. Dillamond's capture whipped things around here into a frenzy, but that's no reason to go off on one another. We're friends for Oz's sakes." Her words rang with the clarity of common sense.

"I do believe you're going to be the best governor Munchkin Land's ever had," Leyen told her friend frankly. "You have the superb ability to deliver a steaming slice of reality wherever it's needed."

/

Chistery was so nervous his palms were sweating. A pair of ornate double doors stood before him, looming like sentinels of carved gold. The Monkey straightened his rumbled red jacket. Though second hand and baggy it was the best he could afford for this important meeting. "The Wizard will see you now," droned a tall, thick bodied man with a reddish beard. He stood stiffly in a green uniform, watching Chistery with guarded eyes.

"Thank you sir," the Monkey responded, as two guards pulled open the doors. Chistery sauntered inside, making an effort not to slouch into his usual rolling gait, and heard a heavy thud as the entryway was sealed. Foreboding prickled up the back of Chistery's neck. Something about this shadowy room was off; there was no feeling of welcome or hospitality. A metallic golden head watched the Monkey with lifeless eyes.

"I am Oz," the mechanical mask announced in an echoing, brassy voice. Chistery jumped in fright. "I am Oz; the great and terrible."

So how does Chistery get to where we see him in the musical…I guess you'll just have to find out…

I know in the musical the time span from 'I'm Not That Girl' to 'One Short Day' probably was only a few days…but I thought it would be more realistic if the Wizard sent for Elphaba a month in advance…plus it worked better with the plot and allowed for more Shiz-era shenanigans (there will be a small spattering of Fiyerba for you fluffle-lovers!)