Author's note:
Thank you all so, so much for reviewing! Btw. I want to also thank the guest that found a little mistake in my chapter and corrected it! :D
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"How did she do that?" Galinda echoed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Elphaba's eyes darted around in panic as she grabbed the handles of the wheelchair more tightly. Her sister was mortified.
"Elphaba, you promised things would be different here!" She was close to tears, her face red in shame. Elphaba held her head down in defeat, squinching her eyes shut. Why did it have to happen now?
"You mean..." Madame Morrible's hand flew to her chest. "This has happened before?"
Elphaba glanced at her sister for help but she just averted her eyes, shaking her head. She looked back at Madame Morrible, searching for an explanation.
"Well...something comes over me sometimes," she blurted out, darting to the Headshiztress, "Something I can't describe! I'll try to control myself," she promised, her voice desperate, before she ran back to her sister. "I'm sorry, Nessa!"
"What?" Morrible exclaimed,"Never apologize for talent!" She hurried to the green girl, placing a hand on her slender shoulders. "Talent is a gift! And my special talent is: Encouraging talent!"
Elphaba stared at her in disbelief, confusion written all over her face. Before she could fully register the meaning of her words, Madame Morrible was already pulling her away from her sister.
She clutched her shoulders in enthusiasm. "Have you ever considered a career in sorcery?" she asked, her eyes sparkling as she gazed into the distance.
The thought alone sounded ridiculous in Elphaba's head. Didn't Father always preach about sorcery being evil? Not that she believed him or anything. She furrowed her brows.
"Not really," she murmured, unsure of how to respond.
"I shall tutor you, even privately, and shall take no additional students!" Madame Morrible declared, not even waiting for her to object. Somewhere in the distance she heard Galinda protest but Elphaba could only stare at the Headshiztress. She raised her arms to the sky, as if thanking the heavens. "Oh, Miss Elphaba," she said, "I have waited many years for a gift like yours to appear!"
Elphaba's eyes widened. Was she really calling it a gift?!
"I tell you, the Wizard might even make you his vizier! His magic grand vizier! "
"The Wizard?" Elphaba gasped, not believing what she was hearing. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
"Yes my dear! I'll write to the Wizard immediately, and tell him about your talent! If you are clever and work hard, you will achieve great things someday!"
"M-Madame Morrible," a perplex Galinda interjected, her small pale hands gripping her purse as she hurried over to her.
"Not now, dear, shoo shoo!" she cut her off, waving her and everyone else away as she exited the hall.
Elphaba said goodbye to her sister, who was beaming at her, before she was wheeled away by an assistant of Madame Morrible. She was barely aware of her new roommate's desperate protests and her having to be almost carried away from the scene by her loyal groupies.
She was still standing there as the hall emptied more and more until she finally snapped back into reality. Did that really just happen? She slowly touched her head. She hadn't imagined it, right? No...it couldn't be. Or could it? Did the Headshiztress just declare her a talent? Had Elphaba underestimated herself all this time? Could her weird... mishaps...these outbursts she had been trying to hide her whole life be a talent? Would she be able to impress the Wizard? The Wizard.
She grabbed her case and ran outside. She took in a deep breath to calm her fast beating heart before she hurried down one of the many stone paths. Her steps were light, and her head high as she skipped through the university gardens.
She was going to meet the Wizard! Her breath hitched. She would finally see him! She never even dared to dream about it – well she had been dreaming about it ever since she had heard about him – but she had never imagined it to become true! A wide grin stole its way to her face, her green skin glowing.
But first, she had to prove herself, she thought soberly and placed her trunk on a bench near a small fountain in the middle of a park. Elphaba clenched her fists in determination. She would work hard, she would study day and night and she would learn to become a great sorceress! She would make Madame Morrible proud!
And she would finally be respected by everyone! They would have to praise her once she joined the Wonderful Wizard of Oz! And the Wizard, he wouldn't be disgusted by her green skin, no! He wouldn't judge her like all fellow Munchkinlanders, who were so narrow-minded, or these stupid, stupid students here at Shiz! The Wizard would see her as she was and he would respect her and recognize her worth. He could finally explain where her power was coming from and would teach her how to control it! And he would welcome her warmly and –
"Ahh!"
Elphaba nearly jumped as a pair of students ran into her, squealing.
"The green bean froggy thing! What is it doing in the gardens?"
Green bean froggy thing? That didn't even make sense! She growled in annoyance as she fixed them with an especially poisonous glare, effectively making them run away in the direction they came from.
Elphaba huffed. Once she was with the Wizard, that wouldn't happen anymore. Everything would change! These idiots would regret making fun of her! She smiled grimly as she looked at their retreating shapes. And her father, he wouldn't chide her, he would see his daughter with new eyes, he would even be proud of her! Nessa wouldn't have to be ashamed of her sister anymore!
Elphaba sat down at the edge of the fountain and gazed at her reflection. A wide eyed green face was staring back at her. Suddenly she smiled. The Wizard would be able to...cure her! He could make her look normal! He was powerful, he could do that! A small laugh escaped her lips as she imagined the scene. Of course, she had much more important thoughts and wishes than that. But she wouldn't say no.
She hit her watery reflection before she jumped up to balance on the stony edge of the fountain.
"My dear Elphaba," she said in a mock deep voice, "You, being above everyone in intelligence and spirit..." She swayed a bit, regaining her balance. "Don't you think that a girl like you, being so good inside, should have a matching exterior?" She stroked her imaginary long beard. "Since these ignorant people here don't seem to be able to get over your appearances, would it be alright by you..." She gestured to her face."...if we'd try a little bit of magic and degreenify you?"
She turned around on the fountain and played with her braid, pretending to think hard. "Why, I don't care what these folks think about me, Mister Wizard," she said in her normal voice,"It's not that important to me. It's not like I'm that desperate...but alright, who am I to object?"
She cackled at this, amused by herself, and almost fell into the fountain. She stopped her fall with the help of a small stony stature and stabilized herself. Her gaze was turned to the surface of the water and she leaned in, somehow being slowly drawn to it. Suddenly, a flurry of images appeared in front of her. She saw a sea of people celebrating with colorful ribbons, singing songs about her. She saw herself talking to the Wizard though she could only see his shadow. But she could see she was happy. And the crowd was even screaming when they saw her!
The vision was gone just as quickly as it had come. Elphaba blinked several times. Had she just seen the future? Her future? Well, she couldn't have made that up, could she have? If that was her future, she was definitely looking forward to it!
But first, she had to share her room with that blonde. She looked into the direction of the girl's dormitories and sighed. It was time to face her destiny.
Elphaba stood in front of a wooden door with a small silver number on it, a key in her hand. She wasn't really in the mood to face her roommate, already sick of the stares she had received again in the corridors on the way to her future dormitory. How long would it take them to get used to her? Probably forever. And Galinda would even take longer than that.
She braced herself mentally and then opened the door. The room was empty. Well, empty didn't quite cover it – it was already stuffed with all sorts of shoes, bags and clothing – but there was no quirky blonde to be seen. Elphaba let out a relieved breath as she closed the door behind her and walked to the still empty bed on the window side.
The room was bigger than she had anticipated, but then again, she remembered Galinda talking about a private suite. Someone must have brought in a second bed earlier, because it didn't quite fit the rest of the furniture which looked rather expensive.
She put her case on top of the bed and opened it, unpacking her few belongings: Three books, four skirts, a single dress, a few shirts and a jacket. From underneath some tights she produced a small green bottle containing a mysterious liquid and hid it under her pillow. When she finished unpacking she looked around the room and furrowed her eyebrows.
One half of the room was dominated by pink. Almost everything was pink: The bed, almost breaking underneath the dozens of fluffy pillows and dresses, the vanity with a pretty, ornate mirror, and the dresser with drawers that didn't close entirely because of all the clothes spilling out of it.
Elphaba sighed. At least her roommate had been decent enough to keep to her own half of the room. From outside the window she could see the great courtyard with small trees and bushes around it and some students walking in pairs or groups, enjoying the mild autumn sun.
The door swung open and Elphaba whirled around to see Galinda striding in. She stopped quickly as her eyes fell on her green roommate and she made a little squeaking sound.
"Good day to you too," Elphaba said dryly and her roommate huffed, flipped her hair haughtily and sat down at her vanity. Elphaba snorted and sat down at the small desk on her side of the room. She put a quill, some ink and a piece of paper on the table before she began to write the obligatory letter to her father.
Dear Father,
Nessa and I have settled down at Shiz rather well. There has been some confusion about rooming though. Madame Morrible didn't know of my attendance here at Shiz, she didn't have me at any of her lists. In short, I didn't manage to room with Nessa though I did my best. I'm sorry, Father. But Nessa is fine and she is sharing a room with Madame Morrible. Of course I will still take care of Nessa, don't worry. She will be my priority.
My new roommate is Galinda Upland and she's…
Elphaba searched for the right words to describe her and peeked over her shoulder to take a better look at her. She was currently measuring (!?) her hair with a measuring tape. Elphaba turned around to her letter, blinking. Holding her quill tighter she scribbled something down.
...blonde.
Yes, that was the right word.
Of course I will not let our disagreements get between my duties.
Today, something amazing has happened and I hope, despite your thoughts on the matter, you will be pleased to hear that Madame Morrible took me, as the only new student, into her sorcery seminar because she saw my talent in it. She even told me that I will soon have the privilege of visiting the Wizard of Oz and that I might become his magic grand vizier! I promise to work hard and I won't disappoint you.
I will make sure to report on Nessa's wellbeing every week.
Elphaba Thropp
Rereading the letter twice she folded it neatly, put it into an envelope and sealed it with hot wax. She stood and placed the letter on her pillow so that she wouldn't forget to take it to the mailbox later.
Then she sat down on her bed and began to read one of her books. Galinda had apparently finished the important task of measuring her hair. She too had begun writing a letter, probably to her parents, which Elphaba couldn't fail to notice because she was scribbling down sentences so furiously that Elphaba began to worry about the precious paper. That worry soon turned into annoyance as she now couldn't ignore her anymore. She took a deep breath.
"Miss Upland," Elphaba bit out trough her teeth and the blonde stopped her scratching, "Would it be possible to write like a normal human being and be more quiet?"
Her head snapped around to her which made her blond curls bounce on her shoulders.
"You want to talk to me about being a normal human being?" she snapped and glared at her but Elphaba just raised her eyebrows.
"At least I'm not as dumb as some normal people here," she said and turned her attention back to her book. Galinda looked her up and down, looking for a new way to insult her.
"And what are you doing, Miss 'I'm so clever'?"
Elphaba didn't look up from her book as she replied: "It's Miss Thropp for you. I'm reading, Miss Upland of the Upper Uplands." She lazily gestured to the object. "This is a book, you see, people usually tend to read them. You should try it too."
"I know what a book is," Galinda hissed and turned away, now scribbling down words even more furiously. She began to hit her quill more forcefully than was necessary into the ink pot.
Elphaba had enough. She closed her book with a snap and jumped up from her bed. She stomped to her roommate who jumped up too to face her. She glared down at her but the blonde returned that stare in equal force, the two standing dangerously close to each other.
"I promise you, I will break this precious little quill of yours and you can look for another way to write your stupid letter," Elphaba growled and Galinda crossed her arms in defiance.
"Ha! And I will break that green neck of yours like a bamboo stick," she retorted, her face flushing.
Elphaba cackled. "Just try," she sneered, "I bet you won't even –"
Galinda snarled and made a bolt at her. Elphaba stumbled back in surprise at the unexpected force. That's when she lost the last restraint she had and leaped at her roommate. She didn't care that she was an adult now and was going to university.
"Just you wait, my friend," she roared and tried to grab her hair but Galinda was quick to save her precious curls from the green monster's hands. Elphaba grabbed her shoulder instead. Galinda squealed as she was pushed backwards towards the door and pounded on Elphaba's arms, pushing against her.
"Don't touch me, you tree," she screamed and was pushed out through the door into the hallway.
"Oh my Oz, get your filthy hands of her, you monster," a horrified girl shrieked and tried stepping between the fighting pair.
"What, in the name of Oz, is happening here?" a voice boomed and all the girls turned around to a middle-aged Quadling woman who's face was red and not only because of her natural skin color.
Only then Elphaba let go of her roommate. She shot a glare at her, then looked to the woman who apparently was one of the supervisors of the girl's dormitories. She didn't look pleased at all.
"We saw her attacking Miss Galinda brutally, Mrs. Bimdler," a girl spoke up.
"That's not true," Elphaba snapped and pointed her finger at her roommate, "She started it!"
"But you wanted to break my neck," Galinda whined, her eyes innocently wide.
"I wanted to break your quill, you dimwit! You wanted to break my neck, remember?"
"Enough!" Mrs. Bimdler glared them both down. "You should be ashamed of yourselves! Behaving like little school girls..."
They both fell silent and looked at their feet, suddenly ashamed of their childish behavior. Once Mrs. Bimdler left, the hallway broke into murmurs of disapproval against Elphaba. She retreated into her room and slammed the door shut.
"Oh, poor Galinda!" A girl approached her and touched her shoulder. "How terrible it must have been to be attacked by that green lizard!"
"How terrifying," someone else agreed and Galinda closed her eyes and sighed in exaggerated distress.
"How do you bare it?" Phanee, a girl with brown little locks, one of Galinda's new pretty friends, wondered and clasped her hands, "To be honest, I would have been blind with rage."
The others murmured in agreement, looking at Galinda with awe. She tossed her hair and stood upright, looking upward.
"Well, my friends,...there are things in life that are meant to test us," she declared wisely and looked like a saint, "Otherwise, how should we be able to mature?"
"Oh my Oz, Galinda, you're so right!"
"Yes, you said it so beautifully! You're so clever," another girl gushed.
"Oh, stop it, you!" Galinda fanned herself and struck a pose,"That was nothing."
"Don't be so modest," Phanee interjected and took her by her arm, "You are simply amazing. Now, how about we go shopping a little?"
Galinda's mood brightened immediately. "Yes! That's a very good idea! This will heal my nerves and help me overcome the trauma that my roommate caused!"
"This will require a looong shopping tour," Phanee agreed and turned to a girl with brown, straight hair, "Will you join us, Shen Shen?"
Meanwhile, Elphaba had plenty of time to read Galinda's letter to her momsie and popsical. She snorted and continued reading what she had written so far.
...a tragedy has happened today! I have to share my suite with another girl! And you won't believe how my roomie is! She's unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe! She's mean and unfriendly and nasty and just impossible! And the worst thing: She's green! Can you imagine? Impossible!
Elphaba scoffed at her limited vocabulary. So apparently her worst feature was her green skin? She hadn't expect anything else from Galinda.
Elphaba turned away from the letter, wanting to laugh about it but somehow couldn't. Her roommate's words to her parents, though ridiculous and silly, were so loving that it made her ache with jealousy. Galinda still had both parents, she loved them and they loved her back! Elphaba clenched her fists. She shouldn't be jealous of that stupid girl!
But she couldn't help it.
Author's note:
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