Um, hi. I'm back. Sorry about that. I've been busy with finals and Christmas and stuff. Thanks for your patience.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Shell raced across the grounds of Shiz University like a madman. His father and sister were having lunch, but Shell couldn't eat a thing, and he didn't understand how Nessa and Frex could eat when Fabala … He didn't want to think about what Fabala might be going through right then. Shell burst into Briscoe Hall, barely taking in the place he was going to be living during the following year, and demanded to the attendant in the lobby, "What room does Fiyero Tigulaar live in?"

"Um … do you know him, sir?" the attendant asked, confused.

Shell slammed his hands onto the attendant's desk. "Listen, pal, I am the only son of Governor Frexspar Thropp of Munchkinland! You're telling me where Tigulaar is, or I'm coming back here with the entire Munchkin army! Is that what you want?"

"N-No, sir," the attendant stuttered. "His Highness lives in Room 326."

Shell climbed up three flights of stairs that would have probably made him faint at twelve, but at sixteen, all he could think about was his sister and what that bastard prince had just signed up to do to her. He arrived at Room 326 and banged on the door. "Open up, Tigulaar, you son of a bitch!" Shell yelled. "Come out and fight like a man!"

Fiyero answered the door and started to ask, "Who are-?" He never got to finish that question on account of Shell punching him in the face, giving him a bloody nose. "Ow! Dude! What the hell? I don't even know you!" He retreated to his nightstand and put a handkerchief on his nose.

But Fiyero was not the only one who was injured. Shell shook out his hand to try and stop the pain. "That kinda hurt," he remarked.

"Kinda?!" Fiyero repeated, his voice muffled a bit by the handkerchief. "What did I ever do to you?!"

Shell strode boldly over to the prince. "I'm Shell Thropp, asshole! And you just signed up to join THE GALE FORCE! As in, the organization whose new mission is to HUNT AND KILL MY SISTER! So naturally, when I found that out, I had a very strong urge to … hit you. Why would you do that, Tigulaar? You were friends with Fabala! She really liked you! How do you think she's gonna feel when she finds out you wanna kill her? You-…"

"Shell! Buddy." Fiyero held up his free hand for silence. "I don't want to kill her. I just wanna find her, make sure she's safe. Joining the Gale Force is the only way I can safely do that. I'm gonna use my status to become captain, and lead the Gale Force on wild swan chases so they never find her. Honest, I'm not a bad guy, Shell! I know you've probably heard some colorful stuff about me, but I swear none of that's true anymore. And that's mostly because of Elphaba. Shell, you won't believe what an effect your sister's had on me."

"Oh Oz, you love her," Shell realized. "You're in love with my sister …"

Fiyero only nodded in confirmation. "Hopelessly. Sweet Oz, I've never told anyone that."

"Not even Glinda?"

"No! Of course not! Do you think I want to get a high heel shoe thrown at my head? But yeah, I … love Elphaba, and I'm joining the Gale Force so I can find her and tell her that."

"That's crazy," Shell said. "But, I gotta admit, I've been thinking of ways to help Fabala ever since, you know, and your plan is better than anything I could come up with, so … I'm gonna join the Gale Force too, as soon as I turn eighteen. I got your back, Tigulaar."

Fiyero grinned, relieved that Shell no longer wanted to fight him. "Thanks, man."

"I'll help you find her and lead the Gale Force away from her," Shell clarified. "As far as winning her over goes, that's totally your responsibility. I decided long ago that I wouldn't be a pimp for either of my sisters."

"Don't worry, not even your sister can resist this face." Fiyero pulled a ridiculous face, and Shell actually found himself laughing. "Shell, despite the fact that we met with you punching me in the nose, I have a feeling we're going to get along just great."

And Shell couldn't help but agree.

"Are you sure you want to go to Center Munch?" Frex asked. "Nessie, it takes a full two hours to get there, so if you're going, you're going for the whole day."

"I know," Nessa said simply. "That's the whole point. I want an entire day of independence. Plus, I'm not grounded anymore! I want to take advantage of that."

Just then, Nanny came into the living room with two packed lunches for herself and Nessa. "You bet she does. This morning, she gave me a list of things she wants to do in the city. Let's just say, Nanny WILL get a good night's sleep tonight!" Frex instinctively made to grab the list sticking out of Nanny's apron pocket, but Nanny quickly jumped on top of a footstool and held the list high over her head. "Ah ah, Mr. Governor, this is Nessa's day. She gets to call the shots – without you hovering over her every single clock tick."

"I just want to make sure that everything's safe," Frex said, unsuccessfully trying to jump up to grab the list.

Nanny snorted. "Is that really how high you can jump, Frex?"

But suddenly, the list was forgotten as they heard the other two Thropp siblings arguing from all the way down the hall. "You just can't do that, Elphaba! That's academic dishonesty! Both you and Nessa could be expelled!"

"I'm not taking her finals for her! It's just one homework assignment that she could have done today if she wasn't going to Center Munch! Excuse me for trying to be a good sister!"

Elphaba and Shell's argument continued as they entered the living room. "Except you're not being a good sister," Shell pointed out. "You're being more like a coddling mother, and breaking the school honor code while doing so. But let's ask Nessa herself and see what she thinks. Nessa, would you like Elphaba to risk expulsion and do your math homework for you while you're in Center Munch?"

"Oh Oz, no," Nessa said, mildly appalled by the idea. "I can do it tonight when I get home. Fabala, how did you even get that idea? It's my legs that don't work, not my brain."

Shell turned to Elphaba with a smug smile. "Ha. I win."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Shut your corn hole, Shell."

"Well," Nanny started, grabbing onto Nessa's handlebars authoritatively. "On that note, we probably should be getting on our way. See you tonight, everyone."

"Goodbye, pet!"

"Have fun, Nessa!"

"I didn't get this when I went to visit Grandmother Partra for the summer!" Shell called out in the same tone of voice as Frex and Elphaba's goodbyes.

Almost as soon as the door closed, an eerie silence fell over the house. "Well, she's gone," Frex finally said hollowly. "This is the first time she's ever been away from me besides school. I don't know, kids, should we … do something?"

"Maybe we should," Shell mused. "After all, without Nessa, accessibility isn't an issue. What could we do if wheelchair access was of no concern?"

"I've never thought about that," Elphaba admitted. "I mean, I've heard what other families do, like rock climbing …"

"Hiking …"

"Sailing …"

"Snorkeling …"

"Handball …"

"Paintball!" Shell and Elphaba said together.

"Wait, did we just agree on something?" Shell asked incredulously. "We never agree!"

"Maybe because it's never been just the two of us," Elphaba said thoughtfully.

Shell looked up at Frex. "Father, can the three of us reach a consensus? Shall we paintball?"

Frex was torn. He was able to put most of his guilt about Nessa onto Elphaba, but a little bit could never leave him. He did not want to do an activity in which his younger daughter could not participate, but his second favorite child had suggested it, and he didn't have any better ideas, so he reluctantly said, "Sure, son. Paintball it is."

There you have it! Really sorry for the wait!

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Elle Dottore