Title: When Your Dreams Come True

Author: Aerohead

Email: in my profile

Website: In my profile

Pairing: Fiyero/Elphaba, Fiyero/Glinda, Glinda/OC, OC/OC

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Dedication: For L. Frank Baum, Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz, and Winnie Holtzman who own this idea that I'm extending. Thank you for giving me the first part. This is also for everyone in the OibLTibS RPG, so Sheika belongs to F-kun, Destin belongs to Tori, Riley belongs to Nessy, and Kade and Noelani belong to Cree.
Warning: spoiler for the ending of the musical Wicked, but that's pretty much about it.

Genre: Romance, adventure (book/play amalgamation)

Summary: With the government at a stand-still, Shiz is the only safe place to be. But with the arrival of two new freshmen, the old struggle of segregation arises.

Author's Notes: I bought "The Best of B'way: Broadway, the American Musical", the soundtrack to the PBS show on next Tuesday. I'm listening to it right now, and I'm so glad it has "Defying Gravity" as the very last song on it, but I'm only on "Memory" right now; yay Betty Buckley! I'm making "Women who Rock" icons of all my B'way idols. The first one has Bernadette Peters, Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, and Eden Espinosa, and the second one has Carol Burnett, Heather Headley, Mary Martin, and Marissa Janet Winokur. If anyone wants to see one, just ask me. Okay, right...story...

Chapter Four: Controversy

"There have been many controversies over whether or not there can be a differentiation between Life and simply life. This is not the same as the tired old argument of whether Animals are merely smarter animals; however they do have close connections. If someone could figure out whether or not Animals have Life or merely life, we could make not only medical breakthroughs, but also moral breakthroughs as well.
"For example, is it morally wrong to sell an Animal to a farm and make it into, say a work Horse, when they are able recite Shakespeare at the drop of a coin? Or is morally right to regular cock the rule of the roost, when it is scientifically proven that a Cock is smarter. Stop giggling, you're sophomores, you should be able to the vernacular for a rooster, don't you think?
"Your assignment for this semester is to look up the different creation myths of our fair country, from the Oziad to Unionist writings to even the translated Kumbric and pfaith texts. You must write a clear and concise essay either talking about the absence of Life and life, or the ways in which it appears in our modern society.
"Now, get to work young ladies; gentlemen, get to work." Professor Timin was in his element as he plowed through the assignment and his introductory speech for it. It was not an unusual Life Sciences activity, to look up the reasoning behind Life and life, however, assignments from previous teachers usually asked students to look up what the teacher thought, not have opinions of their own. A few of the seniors muttered amongst themselves as they set out to do the work, while the sophomores, now used to the Gazelle's tactics, easily moved into the task.
Fabala picked up a copy of the Oziad, and walked back to her desk near the back of the room. Setting it down, she pulled out some paper to take notes on, along with a pfenix quill. She put the quill to her lips in thought, before dipping it into the inkwell, and scratching her name across the top of her paper. She opened the book, skimming through it.

"Hey, can I look on with you? There aren't any more copies of the Oziad left." Fabala looked up to where Kade was playing with his glasses nervously. None of the group had really spoken to one another since Fabala had walked out of the pub, and Kade had heard how Sorcery had gone earlier that day; it was apparent he didn't want to start a conflict.

Fabala sent him a small, nearly relieved smile, and nodded. Kade sat down next to her, and pulled the book between them. He opened his bag, pulling out a piece of paper and a quill. He looked around the desk, before noticing the inkwell. "Faeba, may I borrow the ink as well?" He asked.

She pushed it next to the book between them as she flipped through pages to find something worth merit. She skimmed the page with the feather of her quill, before it came to rest of a passage that looked promising. "Here's something." She said, pushing the book sideways so Kade could read it, too. "Although Lurline has never returned, her companions would oftentimes come down to the small dwelling of her Animals, whom she taught to speak and to learn as well as the failed human race, hoping for a better outcome.' That's a rough translation, of course. This is an old copy of the book, so I'm not sure if that's exactly what it says or not."

Kade nodded, writing down the information he needed. They worked in an amiable silence for the rest of the period, occasionally fighting over which page to read, but soon the toll chimed for them to leave. Fabala started to clean the ink off of her quill while Kade brought the book back to Professor Timin's desk, before coming back and stoppering the inkwell.

"Can I walk you back to your dorm?" Kade asked. Fabala looked up, perplexed.

"What?" she asked faintly.

Kade's tail twitched. "Can I walk you back to your room?" he repeated. "But, if you have another class or you're meeting Aran, I'd understand, I just..." Fabala put a hand on the paw still holding the inkwell.

"Of course you can, Kade. But what's wrong?" He cleared his throat, leaning closer.

"Can I tell you while we walk?" He asked.

"Of course." She said. Fabala finished packing away her things, before moving over toward Kade, who stood on the edge of the room, waiting for her. When she reached him, they started out of Three Queens and into the slightly brisk afternoon light.

Fabala slung her bag around her shoulder casually, watching Kade for any signs that he wanted her to start talking first. The Red Panda held his bag to his chest as he looked up at the overcast sky. He picked up one paw to rub his nose lightly, before he looked down to the grass.

"So..." he started. Fabala remained silent. When he looked over at her, she looked up at the darkening sky.

"It looks like rain." She said flatly. He frowned.

"Do you want to walk faster? We could always..."

"I'm fine, just talk; what's wrong?" she looked down towards him. He seemed slightly distraught, but he nodded and wrestled up some courage.

"Itskindofaboutmilosbutnotreallyletsjustdropit...." He said, head bent.

"Can you repeat that?" Fabala asked.

"Do I have to?" Kade whined. She nodded.

"And say it slower, please." She said, not unkindly.

Kade let out a suffering sigh. "It's kind of about Milos but not really, let's just drop it..." He winced.

Fabala thought for a moment, before her eyes widened in shock. "You like him!" She said, mouth hanging open.

Kade grabbed his tail, and started to play with it, while keeping his bag under one arm. "Kind of..." His black eyes fell on Fabala. "I mean he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut sometimes, but he's a sweet kid; you know, his heart's in the right place, his mouth just needs to catch up with it." Shyness gone, he grabbed Fabala's shoulder excitedly. "And he's from Gillikin! I've never met an Animal from Gillikin before!" The air shifted, becoming colder. Instinctively, Kade pushed a paw through his fur as he looked up at the sky. "Hope no houses are coming." He muttered to himself. Then he looked at Fabala, and stepped farther away from her. When she frowned at him, he shrugged. "Well, the last house fell on a Thropp, didn't it?"

"And you think Milos is the only one who needs to keep his mouth shut?" Fabala asked.

Kade gave her a dirty look as it started to sprinkle. He looked over at Fabala, who didn't seem to upset, and continued at their leisurely pace. They reached Crage Hall in a few moments, and Fabala slipped through the door quickly, checking her arms to make sure nothing looked too terrible. When she was satisfied that she only had a few deep red marks on her skin, she motioned Kade to follow her up the stairs.

"Fabi?" came Nissa's voice, she sounded rather confused. Fabala let out a small groan.

"What." It wasn't a question, and Nissa knew it, because she came down the stairs. She looked worried, so Fabala let her drag her along.

"There's writing on our door, I don't know what it means." She said. When they reached the door, Fabala read the words written in bright green paint.

Alas! For impropriety,

The guillotine of piety.

To remedy society

Indulge not to satiety

In mirth and shameless gaiety

Choose sobering sobriety.

Behave as if the deity

Approaches in its mystery

And greet it with sonority

Let you especial history

Be built upon sorority

Whose Virtues do exemplify

And Social Good do exemplify

"Well, what does it mean?" Nissa asked, watching Fabala's face carefully.

"It's a Quell, but it's missing the last line." Fabala said, now looking at Kade. "Go to your dormitories and see if anything like this is written on your door or Milos' door."

"Right." Said Kade, taking off. Nissa looked at Fabala.

"Well? I know you know what it means; please, tell me?" Nissa begged softly.

"Animals should be seen and not heard." Fabala said finally.

Nissa stepped back, scandalized. "What?"

Fabala closed her eyes. "That's the end of the Quell; Animals should be seen and not heard." She shook her head. "This idiocy should have ended years ago; now do you believe me?"

Nissa swallowed. "I don't believe Dorothy has anything to do with this, how could she?"

Fabala turned, starting away without any other word. "Where are you going?" Nissa demanded.

"To see Miss Greyling; where else would I be going?" she asked.

Nissa ran in front of her, stopping her tall younger sister. "No."

Fabala raised an eyebrow in mirth. "What?"
"No, it's raining out; you've already hurt yourself enough. Look, we can wash it off before Nabila gets back and..."

"If we wash it off, then Miss Greyling won't believe us." Fabala said. Nissa's face fell.

"Oh."

Fabala sighed, rubbing the back of her neck as she thought. She turned back towards the room, staring at the words without seeing them. "Fine, I'll talk to her after Sorcery tomorrow."

"We'll talk to her." Nissa interjected. Fabala turned back to her, about to say something. But Nissa put her hands on her hips, scowling at Fabala. "Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been, after our mothers, of course." She grabbed Fabala's arms, bouncing. "Please? Let me help you? I'm sorry about the other day." She said. Fabala just stared.

"You just apologized?"
Nissa blushed. "I guess I did..." She reverted back to her normal demeanor, practically latching on to Fabala. "But what about Nabila? She has to come back sooner or later, right?"
Fabala shrugged. "She has to know what she's up against, here and now. I guess with the fighting in the Emerald City, some brat Gillikin with half a brain decided that it would funny to insult a minority." Fabala turned when Nissa didn't answer, and saw the girl's mouth tightening. "Oh, right."

They both just stood there, Nissa holding on to Fabala, both staring at the Quell on their door.