My two-week tour of Munchkinland was nothing short of exhausting. I gave speeches at small assemblies, visited hospitals and orphanages, participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and met with lesser officials. By the time I returned home, I was completely drained of all my energy. As tired as I was, I knew this was only the beginning.

The next few months proved me correct. I was kept very busy with paperwork and planning dinner parties. Two months after my succession, there was a fever outbreak in the Quadling Country. Many Quadlings were fleeing to Munchkinland in the hope of finding sanctuary.

"We must have a tighter border control," one of my advisors, Sir Harv, said as he met with me in my office.

"The Munchkin borders are already well-patrolled, Sir Harv," I said, looking over the report.

"And yet, many Quadlings are managing to sneak in undetected. Once they enter the country, we can't track them."

"And you suggest that we do what, exactly?"

"Create a way to find the illegal Quadlings and send them back."

"They are escaping an outbreak, Sir Harv."

"And yet, I see no reason why they must come here."

"They are also fleeing to the Vinkus. Besides, I don't think they intend on making Munchkinland their permanent home."

"It's not our fault they allowed their swamps to sit years without public health inspections. We should not have to pay the price."

"Sir Harv –"

"More importantly, what if they bring the infection with them and Munchkinland becomes infected? Are Munchkins going to be expected to flee to the Gillikin?"

"That's enough, Sir Harv," I said impatiently. I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. "If we add extra border control on the Munchkin-Quadling border, we must also add it to the Munchkin-Gillikin border. And right now, there is not enough money in the budget for both."

Sir Harv worked his jaw.

"Now, if you think of a better plan, please let me know. Otherwise, we need to move on."

"Of course, ma'am," he said and I nodded as I took out another paper.

I thought the problem would go away on its own. But unfortunately, the more I tried to ignore the problem, the more it grew and demanded my attention.

"There have been reports of Munchkins beginning to get sick," Sir Harv said as he handed me a packet.

I flipped through it and frowned. "Most of the outbreaks have been near Upper Applerue. That's near the Gillikin border. You really think that the Quadlings would settle up there? That would be a very drastic climate change for them."

"They would do anything to be as far away from the outbreak as possible, Your Eminence."

Finally, I had enough. Fighting with Sir Harv wasn't getting me anywhere, so I decided to listen to him. He advised me to limit trade with the Quadling Country, to raise taxes to help pay for the extra border control, and to petition the Wizard for more funding. I set up clinics near the infected areas to help those infected. Sir Harv even advised me to set up a grand census to determine who wasn't on the official list of Munchkinland citizens.

"I will not have the Quadlings sent back," I said. "And if there is a possibility of them being sick, I don't want the disease spreading further. Is the Grandieur Estate being used right now?"

"No, Your Eminence," Sir Harv said.

"Good. I want the estate used as temporary homes for the Quadlings who have come here illegally. Once the outbreak passes, they will be sent back."

"Your Eminence, I don't think this is such a good idea," Sir Liunes said as he sat across from me.

"Oh? And why is that?" I asked. I still hadn't forgotten that Sir Liunes wanted a regency for me until I turned twenty-five.

"Finding and moving the Quadlings will take time and money, the two things that are not in a high abundance at the moment."

I sighed. "Well, what else could we do? I cannot have Munchkinland catch this outbreak. There are reports of Quadlings beginning to die from the fever."

The room was silent.

"Very well, then. We will continue with Sir Harv's proposal."

Later that week, I received a letter from Fiyero.

Dear Elphaba,

I know the situation with the Quadling Country is very stressful for you. My parents and sister are working together with our counselors to try and solve it. We have some Quadling migrants, but not nearly as much as Munchkinland.

My only advice to you is to be very careful about Sir Harv's plans. While they seem okay for a short-term, I don't think this outbreak is a short-term problem. And from what I heard, Sir Harv is notorious for his racism against the Quadlings.

Yours,

Fiyero

After reading the letter, I crumbled it up and tossed it aside. Fiyero wasn't a ruler, so what did he know? He had no idea of the position I was in. And he didn't know anything about Sir Harv. No matter how annoying he was about this matter, Sir Harv served my great-grandfather very well. He was very reliable and always offered sound advice. I had to count on him to get me through this and my other future challenges.

I sat down on my bed, playing with the hem of my skirt. I didn't know what to do. Tensions were beginning to rise between Munchkinland and the Quadlings, and I could only hope it got better before it got worse.

The next week, I was sitting at my desk, signing a few more proposals about the situation. "Your Eminence, Prince Fiyero of the Vinkus is here."

I looked up. "What?"

"The prince is here, ma'am."

I looked in my datebook at the week of September third and remembered that he had asked to see me and would be staying for three days. How did I forget?

I hurried out of my office and met him in the foyer. "Prince Fiyero," I curtsied.

"Your Eminence," Fiyero bowed.

I smiled as I led him to my office. As soon as I closed the door behind us, we both relaxed.

"I've missed you, Elphaba," he said, gently taking my hand.

I stepped closer to him. "I've missed you, too."

"How are you holding up?"

"Fine. I would be better if I didn't have to face this major crisis."

Fiyero smiled sympathetically. I felt my face heat up and bowed my head in an attempt to hide my blush. He gently lifted my face back up to look at him and I could see him blushing too.

"I have some more work to finish," I said, awkwardly clearing my throat as I gently pulled away.

"May I stay with you?"

I glanced at him, but smiled. "Of course."

We sat in silence for a while as I read through the most recent report.

"May I help you with something?"

I must have looked confused, because why else would he have asked that? "You think you can be of help to me?"

"I'd like to try," Fiyero said, reaching for the paper.

I handed it to him and he scanned it over. I waited expectedly, wondering how much Fiyero actually learned about running a country, being third-in-line and all. "There's also a shortage of low-income houses that I have to try and fix," I said, taking out another piece of paper.

"May I show you something?"

I nodded and Fiyero took a blank piece of paper and a pen from my desk. "With the vast expansion of industry and jobs in the cities, people are moving away from the countryside to look for better jobs," I explained. "With the Corn Basket doing so well, people were stopping their own little farms and moving to the big cities. And because of that, cities are running low on living spaces."

I looked down and saw Fiyero drawing something that looked like a small, two-story house with two separate doors. "What's that?"

"My parents have been experimenting with this idea in the Vinkus. By building small homes in units of two, you can build clean, safe homes for two families, and it would cost less than…" He stopped. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling."

"No, please continue," I encouraged him. "You are clearly very passionate about this." I paused briefly before continuing. "I see I still have a lot more to learn. With all of my responsibilities, and I do take them very seriously."

"I know you do."

"But there are plenty of people who expect me to fail. And even more trying to take advantage of my youth and inexperience." I looked up at Fiyero and saw something unreadable in his expression.

He gently placed his hand on top of mine and I felt a spark shoot up my arm. Why did I always feel sparks every time he touched me? Was this normal?

"Then they don't know you like I do."

I looked into his eyes and my lips twitched. My gaze shifted back down to the drawing. "May I keep this?"

The prince smiled as he quickly scribed his signature in the corner of the page. I couldn't help but laugh as he gave it to me.

"If you should ever become a famous artist, I will be able to brag that I own your very first sketches."

Fiyero laughed and I felt my heart jump into my throat. His laugh was so deep, yet light and it made me feel things I've never felt before. I looked back at the drawing again.

"This is… really quite good," I said, gently placing the paper aside.

He smiled at me, and I could feel him slowly moving closer to me. Our faces grew closer and one part of me wondered what was going on. The other part of me already knew.

I felt the most powerful spark fly through my body as he pressed his lips against mine. I didn't imagine what my first kiss would be like very often, but when I did, this is exactly how I pictured it.

It was perfect.

Does the Eminent Thropp Care More About Quadlings Than About Her Own People?

Why Won't The Eminent Thropp Do Something About the Quadling Crisis?

Does The Eminent Thropp's Plan To Keep Quadlings in Munchkinland Pose a Threat to the National Security of Munchkinland?

I tossed the papers aside. I couldn't deal with the daily news at the moment. I was trying, but clearly, I wasn't trying hard enough.

"Another Munchkin fever outbreak," Sir Harv growled as he tossed a packet onto my desk.

I frowned at him, not appreciating the gesture. Fiyero left the week before and I found myself really missing his company. "Alright."

"Alright?"

"We need to send the Quadlings back."

"Very good, Your Eminence. I'll let General Huitan know that –"

"And I want it done as peacefully as possible," I interrupted him. The last thing I needed was for this to turn violent. And while I didn't expect it to be completely peaceful, I didn't want there to be any bloodshed.

"You are making the right decision, Your Eminence," Sir Harv bowed as he left my office.

Then why do I feel bad? I thought to myself, placing my head on my desk.

"People are saying that I'll bring Munchkinland to its lowest point," I confessed to Nanny that night.

She put down the hairbrush and gently ran her fingers through my hair. "No one said it would be easy, mon ange. It'll pass, you'll see. Goodnight."

"Night," I said, not looking at her as she left.

As I laid in bed that night, I couldn't stop thinking about my full plate. I just hoped that I would be able to clear at least half of it before more food got dumped on it.

Unfortunately, I didn't hope enough. Over the next week, Sir Harv carried out my order to evacuate the Quadlings from Munchkinland. Or at least, I thought he did.

I honestly didn't know how it would work, but he had assured me that everything would be fine. Unfortunately, the news didn't get to me before it was too late.

Eminent Thropp Approves Forced Removal of Quadlings from their Homes

Munchkin Citizens of Quadling Descent Dragged Out Of Their Homes and Forced to Move To Quadling Country

Protests Rise Up In Cities All Over Munchkinland

I threw the papers aside. Sir Harv manipulated and used me. Fiyero was right. Sir Harv used me to carry out his personal agenda without any thought to the damage it would cause me.

Eventually, the protests grew so much that they made their way to the gates of the palace. I saw everything from my window. The militia was at the ready, their bayonets and guns ready to protect me in case things got too crazy.

I sat in the sitting room as the noise continued outside. I was having tea with a few society ladies when a footman knocked at the door. A footman knocked on the open door and I turned around. I nodded for him to approach and he bowed.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"An armed man has been found in the gardens, ma'am."

I was shocked. "What?"

"He said he wished to harm Your Eminence."

As soon as he said that, the windows shattered. Screams filled my ears as everyone rose to their feet and ran out. A few militiamen came and escorted me up to the safety of my room. Nanny was waiting for me, with the curtains completely closed and the lights off. She collected me into her arms as we sat in the corner, waiting for the word that everything was okay.

I silently cried as I laid in her arms. I was terrified. Someone had tried to kill me. Just the thought of someone wanting me dead made me realize how much I actually messed up.

"It's alright, mon ange. Everything will be okay," Nanny whispered as she kissed my forehead.

But I knew she was wrong. It wasn't going to be okay.