◈Alternate Universe: In this AU, Elphaba and Fiyero are married and have been ruling The Vinkus as king and queen since they graduated from Shiz. They have two grown children, Liir and Poppy Tigelaar. The family lives in the castle that resides in Vilnius*, the fictional capitol city of The Vinkus.
◈Elements: This story uses a combination of details and references to Gregory Maguire's book, Stephen Schwartz's musical, The Wizard of Oz, and other fictional elements created by me* for this specific AU.
◈Foreign Language: Two languages are spoken in this story. Ozian (English) and Vinkun (Lithuanian). Lithuanian was selected to be the designated "Vinkun" language. If any readers know Lithuanian, I humbly apologize because the translations found in this story are no more than the best that Google Translate could provide. (English translations will be in parentheses beside the Lithuanian text.)
◈ Pairings: [Poppy (OC) x Zyaire (OC)] [Elphaba x Fiyero] [OOC Liir x OOC Trism]
◈Content Warnings—PLEASE READ◈
This story is rated T for occasional language, mentions of violence, and sexual situations. Some content may be disturbing for some readers. Content advisories for a variety of things will be labeled at the beginning of each chapter. Please read with caution. Note: if there is a warning missing that you feel should be included, do not hesitate to inform me.
◈*Dedication: Many elements in this universe (such as details about Elphaba and Fiyero's past, the characters Liir & Poppy, the city of Vilnius, among other elements) were co-created by my dear friend and former RPG partner. I had the time of my life writing with you, and this story could not exist without the world we created. You know who you are, and thank you for the years of creativity we shared!
◈Chapter 1: Andris Repair◈
I hadn't even wanted to leave the castle that day.
I awoke to the sound of curtains being yanked open and blinding sunlight streamed into my eyes as I squinted awake.
"You've slept in far too late, Poppy. Time to get up, we're running errands today," my mother's voice instructed me.
I groaned as I sat up in bed, rubbing sleep from my eyes. Mom observed me with a faintly incredulous look before striding over to run a hand through my tangled disaster of long, dirty blonde hair.
"Oz, I will never know where you got these wild curls. It must come from Fiyero's side. Thropp women have notoriously straight hair," she commented with a click of her tongue.
She had a point. One would never guess that I was Elphaba Tigelaar's daughter, and not just because my tanned, rosy beige skin starkly contrasted her rather…phosphorescent complexion. I had been told all my life that I was my father's daughter. My looks, habits, and personality seemed to be all directly inherited from him. The only thing that I was missing were the blue diamond tattoos. The only traits I had inherited from Mom were her brown eyes and, according to Dad, her chin. I couldn't really see it. Not counting those, she and I seemed to have nothing in common at all.
"Why can't Liir go with you instead?" I yawned. "He's your favorite."
"Yes, he is, because he never complains when I ask him to do things," she joked evilly before affectionately kissing me on the forehead. "Get dressed."
It wasn't that I minded running errands with my mother. It was refreshing to get out of the castle and summer was my favorite season after all. However, trips with Mom always seemed to drag on forever. She'd surreptitially lurk in places far longer than I'd prefer, and she didn't like stopping to chat with the locals as much as Dad and I did. I tried to enjoy myself as we walked through the busy streets of Vilnius, the beautiful capitol city of The Vinkus, but the errands I was being subjected to were progressively putting me in a sour mood.
First, we had to drop things off at the tutoring center she volunteered at. Then, we had to send off some letters at the post office. However, I knew that I was really doomed when she began steering me towards the bookstore.
Mom, who was an avid reader much like my older brother Liir, could spend ages browsing the stacks. She assured me that she was just looking for something specific, but after finding that book fairly soon after arriving, she predictably fell into a vortex of distraction as she perused some new titles.
"Mama, I'm ready to go home," I complained dramatically. I felt like I had been very good so far, but I was starting to get impatient. She lifted her eyes from the book she was glancing through and sighed.
"I know, Poppy. We're almost done. We just have to stop by a repair shop after this to bring your father's watch in."
I groaned loudly and crossed my arms, finally reaching my limit. "I'm sorry, don't we have an entire staff at the castle that can do this stuff for us? Why do we have to run these errands ourselves!?" I pouted.
She shut the book she was holding and gave me one of those looks that informed me that I had said the wrong thing.
"Poppy, your father and I would be doing you a disservice if we let you be waited on hand and foot by the staff simply because you are the princess. Just because we're royalty does not mean we get to—"
"Okay, okay! I've heard it all before. But…can't you fix it yourself?" I asked, trying a new tactic. I lowered my voice so no one nearby could hear. "You know…with magic?"
Mom was an accomplished sorceress, not that you'd ever know it. Vinkuns were notoriously superstitious and wary of, for lack of a better term, witches. She all but had to hide her gift, at least in public, for fear that her status as queen might be jeopardized if people found out. I never understood why she didn't take advantage of it more often, though. If I had her magic powers, which unlike my brother I had never shown signs of, I wouldn't be caught dead in a repair shop.
"Technically, yes. I've done it before. But I think it's important to support local shop owners since we have the means to do so. Besides, I'm hoping it'll encourage Fiyero to be more careful with his watch," she muttered under her breath.
"How did he break it this time?" I asked curiously.
"He…dropped it in a pickle jar and it stopped ticking," she shared reluctantly.
"How—"
"If only I knew," she held up her hands.
She paid for the books and briefly conversed in Vinkun with the vendor. Having grown up in Munchkinland, Mom didn't speak Vinkun until she was an adult. She had to learn it after college when she moved to The Vinkus with Dad. My brother and I learned both Ozian and Vinkun as children.
We finally exited the book shop and headed in the direction of our final errand, which promised to be a tedious experience.
"If you insist on dragging me to a repair shop, you owe me a shopping trip," I grumbled.
"Didn't we just buy you an entire new summer wardrobe last month? Or have you worn out those clothes already—and don't roll your eyes at me, young lady. You should be grateful for all of the fine things you have," Mom scolded me.
Tired, sweaty, and annoyed by my mother's criticism, I couldn't imagine a place I wanted to go to less than the Andris Repair Shop.
A small bell rang as we pushed the glass door to the shop open. The shop was tiny, musty, and slightly cramped. Just to the left upon entering was a long counter with an archway behind it that presumably led to a workshop. There was a crooked staircase on that left wall just past the counter that led upstairs to where I imagined the shop owner lived. Shelves packed with various tools and knickknacks populated the center of the shop. A large shop window to the right of the door, coated with a thin layer of dust, looked out upon the street that we had just entered from. In the corner to our right, right beside the front shop window, sat a large wicker rocking chair.
Sitting in this chair was an elderly woman who appeared to be taking a nap. She had rich, dark brown skin and her charcoal-colored hair was set into intricate cornrows which converged into a thick braided bun at the very top of her head. Her stunningly defined age lines suggested that she was in her seventies, maybe even eighties, and though she may have stood taller as a younger woman, age had shortened her stature to the point that, even from her seated position, I suspected that she'd only come up to about my shoulder in height.
Behind the shop counter stood an average-height, middle-aged man who appeared to be fixing a mechanical toy. He had brown skin, much like the woman in the chair, as well as eccentric, subtly receding grizzled hair, a graying goatee, and thick eyebrows. His lips were pressed into a firm, thin line as he concentrated. He may have struck me as stern, even intimidating, were it not for his unassuming posture and his kind, shy eyes.
Mom approached the man and greeted him in Vinkun before presenting the watch. The plainly nervous look on his face suggested that he must know that we were members of the royal family. To be fair, Mom's green skin made it nearly impossible for us to blend in and it wasn't unusual for people to be scared upon meeting her. Whether out of fear or discreteness, he did not draw attention to the fact that the queen was patronizing his shop and began to, rather shakily, discuss the repairs needed with Mom as if she were any customer. Already bored, I began wandering around the tiny shop so I didn't have to stay with her at the counter.
It was only then that I noticed him. A boy that looked to be around my age was sweeping the floor of the far-right corner of the shop. He was slim, only slightly taller than me, and, though his skin color was a warm, lighter brown, he bore a strong resemblance to the man behind the counter. He had short black hair in a fade buzz cut and amber eyes hidden behind a pair of charming, thinly framed glasses. However, perhaps the most notable detail about this boy was that…I had never seen him before.
Vilnius was a big town so it wasn't as if I knew everybody, but I did seem to know almost everyone my age. If I didn't know someone, I had at least seen them. I figured that since I did not know him, I might as well meet him today, so I strode over to him eagerly, quite excited to meet someone new!
"Lėta diena?" I greeted him. (A slow day?)
He turned around, still holding the broom handle in both hands, and gave me a puzzled look. For a clock-tick, I felt self-conscious. Why was he looking at me so strangely? Maybe he was just shy like the shop owner.
"Ar tai tavo tėvas?" I asked, trying to engage him in conversation. (Is that your father?)
"Uh—labas rytas…?" he uttered unconfidently, appearing to be quite flustered. (Good morning...?)
I wasn't sure what his accent was, but it definitely was not Vinkun. Furthermore, I wasn't sure why he was bidding me a good morning when it was well after three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Nesinervink. Aš tiesiog bandžiau užmegzti pokalbį…" I explained, trying to put him at ease. (Don't be nervous. I was just trying to have a conversation.)
The poor boy, looking confused and startled, squeezed the broom tightly and glanced towards the counter where Mom and the shop owner were still speaking. Then, he took a deep breath, and spoke again.
"Atsi—Atsipraš—er—sorry. Aš… nežinau…" he spoke slowly, sounding out each syllable with a dreadful mispronunciation. I just stared at him, feeling as confused as he looked. Then, he groaned suddenly and smacked his forehead in frustration.
"Oz…I should have studied more!" he said hurriedly under his breath.
As soon as he spoke in perfect Ozian I understood what must be happening. He didn't speak Vinkun…but he was certainly trying to. Vinkun was the official language of Vilnius, so I was surprised that he didn't seem to know it at all, but it was also amusing to me how determined he seemed to make a good impression. He was also pretty cute.
Maybe it was mean, but I decided to mess with him a little. I tilted my head to the side and furrowed my brow as if I couldn't understand him. Then, as quickly as I could, I launched into a short monologue of hurried Vinkun.
"Aš žinau, kad tu nekalbi Vinkun ir aš galiu suprasti viską, ką tu sakai, bet tu nesupranti, ką aš sakau, kad galėčiau pasakyti viską, ko noriu. Taip pat, kadangi jūs nežinote, ką sakau, galiu pasakyti, kad manau, jog jūs tikrai miela…"
(I know you don't speak Vinkun and I can understand everything you say, but you don't understand what I'm saying so I can say anything I want. Also, since you don't know what I'm saying, I can say I think you're really cute.)
His jaw dropped open and I stifled a giggle at the look on his face.
"Uh…Dad?!" he started to call, clearly seeking help with translating. Not wanting to disturb either of our parents, I quickly dropped the act.
"Wait, no! Sorry…I speak Ozian too. I was just messing with you. My name is Poppy, what's your name?" I offered my hand to him.
I was expecting him to look embarrassed, or even annoyed, but the only look that crossed his face was one of immense relief to finally understand what someone was saying.
"Zyaire. My name is Zyaire. Good trick," he sighed, shaking my hand. "Uh…can I help you with something?"
I shook my head and offered him a smile for being a good sport. It was nice to know that he had a sense of humor.
"Oh no, I just wanted to meet you. So Zyaire, you don't speak Vinkun, and I've strangely never seen you before. What's your story? Is that your dad?"
"Yeah, that's Dad. I just got to town a week ago. I actually live with my mom in The Emerald City but they decided that I should spend the summer here with him. I haven't been back here since I was nine," he explained with a sigh.
The fact he was from The Emerald City certainly explained things.
"How old are you now?" I asked curiously.
"Fifteen."
"Me too! Well, I turned fifteen last week," I clarified, standing up a little straighter.
"Happy late birthday," he offered.
"Ačiū! That means 'thank you'," I translated. Someone had to teach this boy some phrases.
From the counter I saw Zyaire's dad pointing out some clocks that hung on the opposite wall of the shop which Mom turned around to view. Upon seeing my mother's green face which had been concealed before, I saw Zyaire do a double take to look at her with a stunned expression. I stiffened, preparing myself to defend her. Everyone who was native to Vilnius knew her by now, how could they not know what their own queen looked like? But newcomers and tourists always stared.
"That's my mom," I informed him, my eyes daring him to say anything negative about her. He looked back to me and could surely see the warning on my face.
"I'm sorry—I know it's rude to stare," he said quickly. "I'm just not used to seeing emerald-colored things in The Vinkus. Has she always been…?"
"Yes, she's always been green. Yes, she is my biological mother. And no, I didn't inherit any of the green," I said with a slight edge to my tone. I had heard it all before.
"I wasn't going to ask," he said quickly. "I'm sorry…I'm assuming people are not always so kind. She should come to The Emerald City! She'd fit right in with all of us there!"
My shoulders relaxed as I sensed that he was being genuine. "She loves The Emerald City actually, that's her favorite place to go on vacation. Personally? I don't see the appeal," I teased him with a wicked grin.
The Emerald City was fun, especially the places to shop, but I couldn't imagine living there. I couldn't imagine living anywhere outside of The Vinkus, in fact.
"Well, I'm not sure what's so great about The Vinkus," Zyaire seemed to tease back. "Of course, I haven't seen much beyond this shop…the only people I know are Dad and Great Grandmother. Plus, I don't understand what anyone is saying half the time!"
The elderly woman, his great grandmother, continued to gently rock nearby as she napped.
"Well, you know me now, which is very lucky for you!" I informed him. "You're going to be here all summer and I know Vilnius like the back of my hand. If you want, I can show you around a bit. I'll bet by summer's end you'll be dreading to go back to The Emerald City!"
He hesitated for a second, almost as if he was trying to decide if I meant what I said. I did. He was interesting to me, I wanted to get to know him better.
"I mean…that sounds okay," he decided, cracking a small smile.
Then and there, I privately made it my mission to make him love Vilnius as much as I did…if that were even possible.
"Poppy, we're leaving," Mom called to me as she finished up the transaction. That was quicker than I thought it would be. Ironically enough, I was disappointed that we couldn't stay longer.
As Zyaire and I approached the front of the store so I could rejoin Mom, I noticed Zyaire's father wipe his brow with a handkerchief before wringing it in his hands with uncertainty. He seemed to be attempting to gather the courage to say something.
"Ačiū tau…mano karaliene. Už apsilankymą mūsų parduotuvėje," he mumbled humbly, bowing his head a bit. (Thank you…my queen. For visiting our shop.)
Mom smiled graciously back at him and was about to say something before she was suddenly interrupted.
"Karalienė?!" an unfamiliar, croaky voice piped up from the corner. "Mūsų parduotuvėjehe?!" (Queen?! In our shop!?)
The elderly woman in the corner seemed to be wide awake now as she swiftly stood out of her rocking chair with surprising agility for someone her age. She used a nearby cane to support herself and approached my mother with a wrinkled smile. She boldly shook her hand with an awed expression and then looked my way with a dawning understanding on her face.
"Ir princesė! Poppy, žinoma! Garbė. Garbė," she muttered, shaking my hand as well. (And the princess! Poppy, of course! An honor. An honor.)
I could tell Mom felt a bit awkward at the attention and praise. The whole family was used to this treatment from time to time, but I don't think she ever felt truly at ease being the center of attention.
I loved it.
I chanced a glance at Zyaire who was now standing behind the counter beside his father. His father looked mortified, but he just looked confused. That's right, he didn't know Vinkun!
"What's going on?" Zyaire mouthed to me.
His great grandmother turned her attention to him and gestured between my mother and I.
"The queen and princess! In our shop!" she said in a heavy accent.
Zyaire's jaw dropped for the second time that day, apparently so startled by this revelation that he dropped the broom he was holding which clattered noisily to the floor.
"Princess?" Zyaire said faintly, staring at me with wide eyes.
I shrugged nonchalantly and gave him an amused smile. "I forgot to mention, we're kind of a big deal around here."
"Bobutė, prašau suteikti karalienei šiek tiek vietos!" Zyaire's father pleaded. (Grandmother, please give the queen some space!)
"Taip, tu buvai toks malonus, bet mes turime eiti," Mom gently told the woman. (Yes, you have been so kind, but we have to go.)
I spared a final glance to Zyaire and waved goodbye, the little bell chiming as Mom and I took our leave. As we exited, I could have sworn that I heard Zyaire's great grandmother tell him something in her heavily accented voice.
"The princess thinks you are cute!"