Chapter 3: The Powers of Sorcery and Ozdust "Take your seats, students," Proffesor Anderson cried as he came into the room. The students were all in bunches, talking and laughing. Fiyera and Lida Rose had a corner to themselves. When the proffesor cam in, they quickly sat into a seat and took out pens and notebooks.
"Welcome to College Chemistry I," he said, "I am Proffesor Anderseon and I am your teacher. Have you any questions about chemistry or science or even just life in general, then feel free to ask me"
Fiyera sat up. She liked Proffesor Anderson, however, she was one of the few who did. Some of the students had blank looks on their faces, others were rolling they're eyes and whispering. Elphaba and her sidekicks were just a few.
"Now, then," Proffesor Anderson said, "down to business. Would everyone please open their books to Chapter 1 and we shall begin"
By the end of the lesson, Fiyera's notebook already had 5 pages of notes and had her addinment for Thursday's class written down. She glanced at Elphaba's notebook and saw she had done nothing but draw little hearts and smiley faces the whole hour lesson.
Fiyera wheeled Lida Rose to her literature class and then ran across campus to make it to Logic I on time. She rushed into the classroom just as the late bell rang. Everyone had been chatting happily until she appeared. They gave her the usual dirty looks and began whispering, no doubt she knew who about. They didn't stop until their next teacher came in.
After Logic I and Intermediate Writing I, Fiyera picked up Lida Rose from her math concept class and they headed to lunch.
Once lunch was over, Lida Rose went to the library to study and Fiyera excitedly went to Sorcery I.
She walked into find Elphaba, Depik, and Pasha already seated and talking. Fiyera took her seat farthest away from them as she could and pulled out another notebook and her text book. Proffesor Tippermen walked in, this time wearing a casual pink dress and carrying her pink bag. She pulled out a grade book.
"Depik Beshten," she called.
"Here!" Depik said. Fiyera recognized her voice as the girl who whispered behind her yesterday. She had long, straight brown hair with a few gold highlights.
"Pasha Gazzit," she called to a red-haired girl with eyes that were in a permit surprised look.
"Here!" Pasha replied.
"Fiyera Tiggular," she said.
"Present," Fiyera said.
"Elphaba Tippermen"
"You know I'm here, Mother!" Elphaba said. Fiyera rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Elphie," she said, "But I'm still required to call your name at roll. Well, that's everyone"
"Wait!" Elphaba said, "I heard that two boys were also suppose to be in this class"
"Yeah, that's what I heard!" Depik and Pasha added stimutaneously. Something told Fiyera that neither Depik nor Pasha knew about the two boys and were just agreeing with Elphaba.
"Eventually," Proffesor Tippermen answered, "But they're mother contacted me and told me they would be a few days late"
Proffesor Tippermen stepped to the podium with her lesson plan. "Now then," Proffesor Tippermen said, "Has anyone ever done any form of sorvery before"
All three of the girls raised their hands. Proffesor Tippermen turned to Fiyera.
"Miss Fiyera?" she said, "You've never done any form of sorcery before"
"Well, um, yes," Fiyera replied, timidly, "But I'm afraid I'm not very good"
"She probably tried to tie her shoes one day and ended up setting her bed on fire!" Pasha said.
"I betcha she tried to clean up her room one day and knocked all her books off her shelves!" Depik added.
"No," Elphaba said, giggling, "She probably tried to change her dress color and ended up changing her skin color instead"
The three girls laughed hysterically. Fiyera hung her head and blushed a darker green.
"That's enough girls!" Proffesor Tippermen yelled. The girls stopped laughing, but were giggling silently.
"Fiyera would you come up here, please?" Proffesor Tippermen asked.
Her face turning a forest green, Fiyera stood up and walked to the front of the class. Proffesor Tippermen walked over and grabbed a candle. She placed it on the desk in front of Fiyera.
"Now, Fiyera," she said, "light the candle, but do it in a unique and original way"
Fiyera turned her attention to the candle. She lifted her hands and placed them on either side of the wick.
Like an explosion, fire bursted onto the wick, so high it singed the ceiling. The flames changed from red to green to pink to blue to black and then back to orange ending with the entire flame extinquinshing. The other girls' faces looked shocked, even Pasha's looked more shocked than normal. "I'm sorry, Proffesor Tippermen," Fiyera said, tears beginnign to rom in her eyes, "My powers...you see...they're...they're"
"The best I have ever seen!" Proffesor Tippermen said.
"What?" Elphaba asked.
"What?" Depik and Pasha repeated.
"What?" Fiyera asked, more surprised than anyone.
"Miss Fiyera, I wish to speak to you after class." she said, "You may take your seat now"
Fiyera, shaking slightly, walked back over to her seat and sat down. Proffesor Tippermen began writing notes on the board. The room was silent as the other girls took notes. Other than Elphaba shooting dirty looks at Fiyera,. the four girls had no contact during the class.
At the end of the lesson, the girls rushed out of the room, all except Fiyera. Slowly, she repacked her bag and walked to Proffesor Tippermen's desk.
"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
"Yes," she said, setting down the pink pen she was writing with, "Miss Fiyera, as you may know, my husband has been working as the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City since I became headmistress ten years ago. However, running Oz can be a very tiring job, even for someone as talented as him"
She stood up from her desk and moved around to the front. Fiyera wasn't quite as nervous anymoren, but she still shook slightly.
"He wishes to retire from his postion so he may teach along side me here at Shiz. However, he won't turn the job over to just anyone"
She paused for a moment, as if expecting Fiyera to catch on to what she was saying. Fiyera stayed silent.
"I don't want you to hold your breath or get your hopes up but...I think perhaps you might be just the talent he is looking for. I think you could be the next Wizard of Oz"
"But, Proffesor Tippermen," Fiyera said, "My talent is so...well, I can't control it very much, just as you saw"
"But Fiyera, with a bit of training, I just know that you will learn how and become a great witch, just as"
But Proffesor Tippermen didn't continue. She held her words back as if sha had said too much.
"Just as who, Proffesor?" Fiyera asked.
"Nevermind," she said, "The point is, if you would like, I could give you private tutoring to prepare you"
"I would, Proffesor," Fiyera replied, "But I don't think...I don't think I'd"
"You don't think what, dear?" she asked.
"I would love to be the next Wizard of Oz, headmistress, but...I've lived in Nominlind my whole life. People there usually don't come here because...they would never be accepted. I don't think Oz would ever accept me as their wizard"
Fiyera had expected Proffesor Tippermen to agree wit her, but instead, she smiled. "Oz is not very open-minded, Fiyera," she said, "You are right about that, but...I think, if you give your powers and the Ozians enough time,...I believe you will be known as the greatest wizard that Oz has ever seen"
Fiyera was speechless. She wasn't nervous and she was no longer trembling. She was merely surprised.
"Thank you, headmistress," Fiyera said, "I would love to have private tutoring with you"
"Then it's settled!" Proffesor Tippermen said, "Let's see, I'd say we'll begin at the end of the month. That should give us both enough time to get settled. I shall see you Friday morning, second period, then, with the rest of the class"

On Friday morning, Fiyera woke long before her roommate. It was 5 a.m. and the sun hadn't even risen yet. Fiyera put on a pair of navy blue shorts and a grey t-shirt she had bought the other day which said "Shiz Phs. Ed. Department". She got on her sneakers and went out to jog around campus.
It was rather chilly outside. Fall seemed to be settling in. As Fiyera ran, her breath rose in front of her like thick white smoke. The stars above her twinkled softly but seemed to be fading.
She slowed down and stopped after a half an hour of running around the grounds. She was sweaty and hot. Her hair, pulled into a ponytail once again, ran down her back limpy. She hadn't washed it since the morning before. Once she got inside, she'd shower. Fiyera leaned against the wall of the Mathematics Department building. She looked up at the stars again. She loved the stars. As she watched them, she remembered what her father had once said. She recalled that night and all it's detail.
..."That one right there, that's called Scorpio. See how he's in the shape of a scorpian. Those born under him are said to be the most passionate and spiritual of all the astro-signs"
"Which one am I again?" Fiyera asked, sitting on his lap. She was only nine.
"You are Aries," her father replied, "They are very talented and unique"
"I love the stars," Fiyera said, "Don't you, Daddy"
"Almost as much as I love you," he said, kissing her head.
They stayed silent for a few moments, watching the glistening diamonds of the night.
"Someday, Fiyera," he whispered, "When I'm in heaven, I'll be able to look down at you and watch over you through a star"
"But how will I know which one is you?" Fiyera asked.
"I'll always be the last star you see in the sky in the morning." he replied.
Fiyera nodded, continuing to watch the magnificent orbs.
...As Fiyera watched the sky now, the stars began to fade. The only one she could see stood out as bright as gold in a piled of coal. She smiled at it and waved. It made her feel a bit safter that at least her father was with her in her stressful days at school.
After a few moments, Fiyera stood back upright and started joggin again. She could make another lap around campus before she had to take a shower.
Fiyera walked out of Sorcery I that day with her book filled with new and interesting notes. The other three girls pushed her aside as they past, whispering. It didn't really matter to Fiyera what they were saying. It seemed immature to talk about other people like that. Fiyera didn't really mind that she didn't have any friends, either. What good is a friend if they didn't accept you for who you are, anyway? At least she had Lida Rose.
After two more classes, Fiyera made it to the cafeteria. She and Lida Rose usually ate in the court year, despite the whispers and looks of loathing.
Lida Rose wheeled down the path of the courtyard's walkway over to Fiyera. Fiyera smiled as she approached, but Lida Rose wasn't.
"Fiyera, listen," she said, "You see, Jax Quigells and Dezzie Patrella invited me to sit with them today"
"Oh?" Fiyera said, trying to look happy for her sister. On the inside, thought she was angry. Fiyera didn't know who this Jax was, but Dezzie was an Elpahba-wanna be who was always talking about Fiyera in Logic I.
"Is it ok with you if I sit with them?" Lida Rose asked timidly.
Fiyera was most certainly not ok with this, but who choice did she have? Lida Rose was always sacraficing things for her and Fiyera rarely every payed her back.
"Of course you can," Fiyera said, smiling. "You'll be ok sitting by yourself?" she asked.
"Sure I will, don't worry about me. Have a good time"
"Lida Rose gave her a one armed hug before wheeling-off over to Jax and Dezzie to get her food.
Fiyera ate her lunch alone in silence. People kept looking over at her and giggling. Even though Fiyera didn't want them as friends, she couldn't help but be angry. How dare these people treat her this way. None of them probably even knew what it was like to be alone.
But what could she do? Fiyera would always be alone. As long as she were at Shiz anyway, or all of Oz for that matter.
After lunch, Fiyera had a free period and decided to spend it in the library. She ran up to her dorm to get her library books which she had just finished reading the night before. As she was unpacking her backpack of morning books, Elphaba walked in to put her own things away before she and her side kicks went down to the lake for a walk. Neither had spoken to the other since their first day and neither could complain about it.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Perhaps Proffesor Tippermen had come to visit again. She knew it wouldn't be Lida Rose, who was in Beginners Writing I. Elphaba opened the door to greet the guests.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Fiyera turned around and saw two boys in the doorway.
"Hi," the first boy said, "I'm Zulu Metters. I just moved into the dorm above you"
The other boy turned to the first one and cleared his throat. "Alright!" he said, rolling his eyes, "WE just moved into the dorm above you! This is Dexson, my younger brother. May we come in?" "Please do!" Elphaba cried, opening the door wider and stepping aside. The boys walked in and caught sight of Fiyera. They looked taken aback when they saw her, no doubt why.
"Oh, this is Fiyera," Elphaba said, "She's...not important"
"I see," Zulu said, turning his attention back to Elphaba. Fiyera couldn't help but notice Dexson continued to stare at her. She turned away, pretending to sort through her books. "Well," Zulu said, "We're planning on going to the Ozdust Ballroom tonight. We heard a lot of Shiz students go there on Friday nights. Would you be interested in going with me"
Elphaba started giggling. Fiyera rolled her eyes, thinking how much she sounded like and idiot.
"I'd love to go with you, Zulu!" she said, "Pick me up at eight"
"Of course!" he said. Fiyera heard him opening the door.
"Will you be coming tonight, Miss Fiyera?" Dexson asked.
"She probably has to read a book," Elphaba said, trying to sound insulting. Fiyera said nothing.
"I would especially like it if you'd come, Miss Fiyera"
There was silence throught the room, everyone awaiting Fiyera's answer. Fiyera turend around to face Dexson.
"I think so," she said, "I don't think I was planning to do anything else"
"Well, then," he said, "I guess I'll see you there"
He took Fiyera's green hand and kissed it.
"It was nice meeting you, Miss Fiyera." he said before leaving with is brother.
The door shut. Elphaba grabbed her jacket as Fiyera sat on the bed, breathing heavily.
"Are you ok?" Elphaba asked.
Fiyera could only nod. She was completely speechless. Then, she stood up and rushed to her closet.
"What are you doing?" Elphaba asked as she was about to leave.
"I have to find something to wear for tonight!" she cried.

Fiyera was finishing her hair when the clock struck 7:30. She put two green barettes in her hair and went to slip on her shoes. Elphaba came back into the room in her bathrobe and her gold hair wet.
"You're leaving already?" Elphaba asked. "Well," Fiyera said, "I want to see if Lida Rose wants to come. Why do you ask"
"Well, I just asumed that you would be coming with Zulu and me. You know, since you're going with Dexson"
"I'm not going with Dexson!" Fiyera corrected, "He just said he'd see me there"
"Uh-huh," Elphaba replied, "Where exactly are you from"
"Nominlind, the country on the other side of the portal of the Dragon Clock." she answered.
"I see," she said, "Well, Fiyera, I'm not sure how boys act in Nominlind, but in Oz, sometimes you have to read between the lines"
"What do you mean"
"What I mean is Dexson will probably come down here with is brother to pick me up, see you almost ready to leave and tell you since he's leaving and your leaving, why not leave together"
"Listen, Elphaba," Fiyera said, "I don't know how boys act in Oz and I don't care how boys act back home. I guess I just want to arrive at the party on my terms"
"Suit yourself!" Elphaba said, "See if I ever help you again"
"You know what, Elphaba, I'm still waiting for the first time." she said, before slamming the door behind her.
Fiyera started walking down the stairwell when another person turned the corner and came face to face with her. It was Jax carrying a bouqet of dragon roses.
"Hey, Fiyera," he said, "You look really pretty"
"Thanks!" Fiyera replied, a bit surprised. "Where are you going"
"I'm going to ask Elphaba if she wants to go to the Ozdust Ballroom with me tonight"
"Oh," Fiyera said, "I hate to tell you this, Jax, but Elphaba already has a date for the Ozdust"
"Your kidding!" Jax said, looking thoughly crushed. "I can't believe this"
Jax sat down on the step behind him, obviously bummed-out. Fiyera couldn't just leave him there. She sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry, Jax," she said, putting her arm around him, "But, you know, Elphaba's very popular, she being the headmistress's and the wizard's daughter and all"
"I know she's popular!" Jax said, "That's why I wanted to go out with her"
Fiyera was surprised, "You mean you aren't really attracted to her? You just wanted to go out with her because of her reputation"
"What's being attracted got to do with anything? She's the most popular girl! I become her boyfriend, I become the most popular boy"
"You know, popularity isn't everything." Fiyera replied, "I've never been very popular. Even back home where I had friends. But it doesn't matter to me! What's the point of being popular if you're not happy"
"I guess you're right, Fiyera." Jax said, "Well, I guess I'll see you." He started back down the stairs.
"Where are you going now?" Fiyera asked, standing up.
"Back to my dorm," Jax said, "I guess I'll do some studying"
"Well, wait," Fiyera said, "I do know someone you could ask"
Jax cleared his throat and turned back to Fiyera, "Listen, Fiyera, you're a really nice girl, but"
"No, silly!" Fiyera said, rolling her eyes, "I'm talking about Lida Rose"
"Lida Rose?" Jax repeated, "Nah! She wouldn't want to go with me"
"What makes you think that?" Fiyera asked, "You never even asked her"
Jax thought for a minute, "But what is she says no"
"We'll light that fire cracker when we come to it!" Fiyera said, "Come on! It would be an awful shame to waste those flowers. And I know for a fact that Lida Rose loves dragon roses"
Jax nodded and he and Fiyera headed to Lida Rose's dorm together.

"Gee," Lida Rose said, taking the bouqet of dragon roses, "I'd love to go to the Ozdust with you Jax, but"
"But what?" Fiyera asked.
"It's Serella," she said, "She's really upset about something and won't tell me what. I'd hate to leave her"
"You and Jax go on, Lida Rose," Fiyera said, "I'll handle Serella"
"Are you sure, Fiyera?" Lida Rose asked, "Serella doesn't really like you"
But Fiyera wasn't taking no for an answer, "I'll be fine, Lida Rose, you two have a good time. I'll see you there later"
"That's a really great sister you've got there," Jax said, shutting the door.
"I know," Lida Rose said, "I wish everyone else at Shiz could understand that"
Fiyera walked through Lida Rose's room to the door of her bathroom where she could hear muffled sobbing. She knocked on the door.
"Go away, Lida Rose," she said.
"Serella, it's me, Fiyera, Lida Rose's older sister"
There was a pause, "What do you want?" she asked, disgusted.
"I want to know what's wrong." Fiyera sid calmly.
"Nothing!" she yelled, "I don't need your help, I'm fine"
Fiyera thought for a second, "Alright," she said, her voice stern, but calm, "Serella, the way I see it, you can either sit there in the bathroom crying and feeling sorry for yourself, and might I add, alone, or you can talk to someone who cares about you and try to do something about it"
There was silenec. Fiyera continued.
"Let's evaluate this," she said, "You've done the crying alone thing, you gonna keep going with that or do something"
Again, silence. Fiyera waited. The sound of metal walking across the floor and the, the door opened. Fiyera stepped inside. She sat down on the bench opposite the toilet were Serella sat down. She started cyring again.
"Oh, Fiyera, it's awful!" Serealla sobbed.
"What's awful?" Fiyera asked.
"My...my older sister, she...she's been going to Shiz for a few years now, you see and she...she stole my boyfriend from me"
"Oh, Serella," Fiyera said, "I'm so sorry"
"She's always been so mean to me because of my disablity!" Serella sobbed, "She's always had to take everything I've ever really wanted, even if she didn't want it! It's not fair"
"Fiyera went over and placed her arm around Serella, "Serella," she said, "I think what your sister did was terrible! But...look, your boyfriend decided to go with her, too, didn't he? Listen to me, Serella, if he doesn't want to be with you, then so be it! He shouldn't be worth your tears"
Serella stopped crying. She took a few deep breaths and wiped the water from her eyes. Then, she looked up at Fiyera and, to her surprise, smiled.
"Perhaps you're right, Fiyera," she said, "I shouldn't waste my tears over a guy who wouldn't waste his on me"
"That's the spirit!" Fiyera said, "Come on! Don't waste your first non-school night stuck here! Come to the Ozdust with me! There's a party there"
"No thanks, Fiyera," Serella replied.
"Why not?" Fiyera asked.
"I don't think anybody would want me there"
"Do you think anybody wants me there?" Fiyera asked, "But I'm going anyway! Come on, you never know, you might accidentally have fun"
Serela smiled and nodded. Then, she and Fiyera left together.

Serella and Fiyera reached the Ozdust about quarter after eight. Serella spotted a group of her friends and walked off, leaving Fiyera all alone. She grabbed a glass of punch and sat down.
From the sidelines, Fiyera watched the students of Shiz dance around. Lida Rose and Jax seemed to be having an exceptional time. She saw Dezzie Paterella and some sophomore boy together. Depik and Pasha, standing with their dates, were giggling on the sidelines as they watched Elphaba and Zulu dance. Dexson was no where in sight. Perhaps he had changed his mind about coming. She became very disappointed. Why, she didn't know.
A slow song started to play. The couples danced together, glistening in the silver and blue lights. As she watched, she heard someone clear his throat. She looked up.
"Dexson!" she exclaimed, dropping her empty cup as she stood up.
"I didn't mean to frighten you, Miss Fiyera," he said, "I was just...I was wondering...would you...would like to dance...with me"
Fiyera felt very uncomfortable, and yet, something about him wouldn't let her say no. She slowly nodded, offering her hand to him. He led her out onto the dance floor.
Fiyera and Dexson stood among the other dancers. Fiyera was a bit nervous. She had been to dances at her high school in Nominlind, but she never had nerves like this. Dexson adjusted his left hand in her right and placed his right one in the small of her back.
"We need to be a little closer," he said. Fiyera noticed Elphaba staring at them as he said that, "Like this"
Dexson pulled Fiyera more close than most of the couples were. Her brain was telling her to backaway, but her instincts kept her there as they began to move around the dance floor.
"So," Dexson said, "What part of Oz are you from, anyway"
"Oh, I'm not from Oz," Fiyera said, "My home is on the other side of the dragon clock. Nominlind"
"Nominlind!" Dexson exclaimed, "I've been there! I lived there, as a child, for a year or two"
"Really?" she asked, "I've lived there my whole life. But my parents were born in Oz"
"That's interesting," Dexson said, "What made them leave? If you don't mind my asking"
"Oh, no," she said, "My mother has skin like mine. She was never accepted here. She and my father left before they were even married"
"And they've been together all this time?" "No," Fiyera said, averting his eyes, "My father died when I was ten"
"I'm sorry," he said.
The song at that time finished. The two stopped dancing as another fast beat song took its place.
"You wanna take a walk?" Dexson asked. Fiyera nodded. He took her hand and led her from the hall, everyone watching them as they left.
The stars were darting in and out of the clouds. Dexson and Fiyera wondered among the garden paths of the Ozdust. Here and there, they'd see a couple walking past. No one they knew from Shiz. Always giving Fiyera a strange look.
"So," Dexson asked, "If you don't mind my asking, how did your father die"
"Oh," Fiyera said, "Well, you see, my mother's a witch. When they were living in Oz, she had to save his life one day. She cast a spell and turned him into a scarecrow"
"That's how he died?" Dexson asked.
"Let me finish!" Fiyera said, grinning, "After they were married, but before my older brother was born, my mother worked day and night trying to turn him back into a man. You see, spellsa re irreversible. So she concocted a potion with one minor, but lethal side effect"
"What was it?" Dexson asked.
"He was allergic to hay," Fiyera continued, "If he as so much as brushed against hay, the potion flowing through his veins, keeping him human, would back fire and poison him"
"That's terrible!" Dexson eclaimed, "So, he came in contact with hay whey you were ten"
Fiyera nodded. "Our new neighbors thought it would be a great idea if they put up a scarecrow. One day, some stray hay flew over and...brushed his arm. He died two hours later"
Dexson didn't know what to say then. Luckily, Fiyera continued.
"It was really hard on my mom," she said, "They loved each other very much. Now, she was all alone raising three kids. One of which was handicapped and needed almost 26 hour care"
"Your sister is handicapped?" Dexson asked.
"My little sister, Lida Rose," she said, "Oh, you probably havent met Lida Rose yet"
"No," he said, "I'm sorry about her condition"
"It's not your fault!" Fiyera said, then she hung her head, "It's mine"
"What do you mean?" Dexson asked, "It's not your fault she turned out that way"
"Yes, it is," Fiyera said, "You see, Lida Rose, when she was born, she was completely healthy. But...her skin was green, too"
"Really?" Dexson asked.
"So, when she was five and me eight, we snuck into the cellar were my mother practiced her sorcery. I planned to make a potion to change our skin color. I was planning on taking the potion first, but Lida Rose begged and pleaded with me to let her. So, she took it, but nothing happened. We decided to try again the next day. We went to bed and everything seemed fine. But, when we woke up...well, Lida Rose's skin was normal, but...she couldn't walk. It was as if her legs had gone numb. My mother tried everything in her power, but it was no hope. She was stuck that way. Nobody was really angry at me and I didn't get punished, but...I've always felt responsible and so terrible about it"
Dexson looked at Fiyera's face and noticed she was crying. He felt so terrible about making her relive horros from her past. He gently pulled her close to hem and held her. Fiyera wrapped her arms around him and cryed on his shoulder. After a minute, she looked up. His face was ever so close to hers. Dexson leaned in and touched her lips with hers.