Doglover645: LOL! I appreciate the Hurricane El Nia reference!
Torchakaywrites: LOL! My stories usually always have a depression factor. And then of course there's the happy part!
Indy's Green Hat: Yes, Frex did leave Elphaba in the Emerald City by herself.
Fiyero stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for the servants to bring down his suitcases. It was October, a month after the school year had began. He sighed, running his hand through his hair when they appeared and began to carry them down the stairs.
"Fiyero," Amalie said as she approached her son.
Fiyero turned around to face his mother. "Yes?"
"Please," she practically begged. "Please try at Shiz."
"I will," Fiyero said half-heartedly.
"We mean it, Fiyero," Raal said as he stepped up next to his wife. "Your grandparents are getting older and are very tired. I don't know how much more they can take. You need to start changing your behavior, Fiyero, and soon."
"I will." After saying goodbye to his parents, he looked up and saw the king and queen coming down the stairs.
"Yero," Queen Alyena said, a smile on her slightly wrinkled face as she approached her grandson, her light silver, practically white, hair tied in a bun. "Have fun at Shiz."
"I'll try," Fiyero said, giving his grandmother a small smile.
"You're a very smart young man, Fiyero," King Navon said, a soft smile hidden behind his greying beard. "All you have to do is try."
Fiyero nodded and said goodbye to his grandparents before climbing into the carriage. He watched as his family waved to him as the carriage took off and the castle vanished from sight. The prince sighed and leaned back against the cushioned seat, slowly closing his eyes and taking a nap. When he woke up, he realized he was at Shiz. Yawning, he stretched as much as he could and climbed out as soon as the driver opened the door. As he took in his surroundings, he realized that Shiz was actually a very nice campus. Too bad he wouldn't be staying here for very long.
"Were you looking for something, or… someone?" a female voice said from behind him.
The prince turned around and came face-to-face with a petite blonde (for the most part, since he was a good three inches taller than her). Her cerulean eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked up at his, flirtatiously batting her eyelashes.
"Uh… yeah," Fiyero said, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a crumbled up schedule. "Some sorta… history class."
"The class just ended," the blonde giggled.
"Well, perfect timing," Fiyero said as he re-crumbled the schedule and re-pocketed it. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Fiyero Tigulaar of the Vinkus."
"I know," the blonde swooned, then quickly collected herself. "And I am Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands."
The prince took her hand and delicately kissed it. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Galinda. So, what does anyone do for fun around here?"
"Nothing… until now," Galinda said, clearly still swooning.
Fiyero looked around and saw a bunch of students studying. "Well, it seems like we'll have to spice things up here a bit. What's the most swankified place in town?"
"That would be the Ozdust ballroom!" the blonde chirped.
"Sounds perfect!" The prince went around and began to tell everyone of a party he was hosting at the Ozdust Ballroom that night. Pretty soon, the whole school was abuzz with the news of the scandalous Winkie prince throwing a party.
"Shall we?" Fiyero said as he offered his arm to Galinda.
Galinda immediately linked her arm in his and they began to walk around the campus. They were just outside the café when something caught the prince's eye. He turned and saw someone he thought he would never see again.
Elphaba.
It had to be her. How many other people in Oz were green? She was sitting at a table with a girl in a wheelchair, both girls shaded by a large umbrella. She still looked the same, except for her sharper features and longer hair. She looked a bit paler and thinner than he remembered her, but brushed that thought aside.
"Fiyero?" Galinda asked, surprised that she no longer held the prince's attention. "What are you looking at?"
"What's that girl's name?" Fiyero asked, seemingly in a dazed state.
The blonde followed his gaze and frowned slightly. "Which one?"
"The green one."
"Elphaba? Why? What are you… Fiyero, where are you going?"
Fiyero ignored the pouting blonde as he slowly stepped closer to the two girls. "Elphaba?"
Both girls looked up. Elphaba's brow furrowed, wondering why this strange new student was talking to her, and how he knew her name. Most of the students didn't know, or didn't care. They certainly never called her by it. "Yes?"
"It's me. Fiyero."
Elphaba still looked confused for a moment. "Yes…"
"We met when we were children. You were staying at a hospital in the Emerald City and I ran away from my parents and found your room. I shortened you name to 'Fae'."
The green girl seemed to try to remember, and eventually put the pieces together. Her face lit up when she remembered. "Yero?"
"Hi."
Elphaba made to get up, but the wheelchair-bound girl gently placed her hand on her knee, stopping her. Elphaba gave her a reassuring smile and after a while, the younger girl relented. Elphaba got up and wrapped her arms around her old friend in a hug. "It's been so long."
"Too long. How have you been?"
"I've been fine. You?"
"Okay."
The girl in the wheelchair cleared her throat and Elphaba jumped slightly. "Oh, Fiyero, this is my younger sister, Nessarose. Nessa, this is Fiyero."
"Isn't he the one you met at the Emerald City hospital?" Nessa said, somewhat critically.
"Yes. That one," Elphaba said.
Nessa looked the prince up and down, making the prince feel very uncomfortable. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Master Fiyero."
"You as well, Miss Nessarose," Fiyero said, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt.
The younger Thropp nodded and looked at her sister before returning to her book.
"Sit with us," Elphaba said, gesturing for the prince to sit down.
He turned around and realized that Galinda was nowhere in sight. He sat down and the two began to have a conversation, under the watchful eye of Nessa.
"The Vinkus has trains now," Fiyero laughed, and Elphaba laughed along with him.
"I remember that. You used to love trains."
"I still do."
Elphaba smiled and blushed. "It's nice to be able to retain happy memories like that."
The prince paused before asking softly, "Are you… you know… still sick?"
Nessa made a noise in the back of her throat and Elphaba glared at her.
"I'm sorry. It was rude of me to ask," Fiyero said, obviously afraid of Nessa for reasons unknown.
"No, it's okay," Elphaba said before sighing. "Yes. I am. But it's hasn't gotten worse. At least, not noticeably worse."
Fiyero looked at the younger Thropp, but couldn't read her facial expression. It looked like a mixture of confusion, wariness, and anxiety.
"Well, it has been nice talking to you, Master Fiyero, but we must be going to our next class now," Nessa said as she began to put her things away.
"Of course," Fiyero said as he stood up.
Elphaba slowly rose to her feet and began to pack up her things.
"Elphaba," Fiyero said, grabbing her attention before she made to leave with Nessa. "There's this party at the Ozdust tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."
Elphaba paused. She had never been one for going to parties. Not that anyone ever invited her to one.
"Fabala, we have to go now," Nessa said impatiently.
"If you don't want to come, it's fine," Fiyero said gently.
"No! No, I do," Elphaba said quickly. "I'll… I'll go."
"Elphaba," Nessa warned.
"It'll be fine, Nessa," Elphaba said, giving her a look that told her not to argue. She turned back to Fiyero. "I'll go with you."
The prince smiled. "Great. So, I'll be picking you up around eight?"
"We're going to be late," Nessa muttered.
"That's fine," Elphaba said, ignoring her sister.
The prince nodded and left, his thoughts consumed by the party.
"Fabala, what were you thinking?" Nessa hissed as the two headed to their next class. "What has gotten into you? You never want to go to parties."
"Well, no one's ever asked me before."
"You know you won't be able to handle it."
"How do you know that?" Elphaba asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked into the Science building.
"Because I know you."
"Aren't you going to the party with Boq?"
"That's different."
"How so?"
"It just is."
The two girls walked into the room right when the professor had called their names for attendance. They settled in quickly and Nessa gave her sister a quick glare before focusing on the professor. Elphaba ignored her as she took her notes, her thoughts consumed by the prince and the party.
"Why didn't you tell me that you know Prince Fiyero Tigulaar?" Galinda asked as soon as Elphaba returned that night.
"It never came up," Elphaba said, taking off her bag and placing it by her desk. "And I don't know him."
Galinda rolled her eyes. "Elphie, you still should have told me. I'm your bestest friend."
"A possession you've only held for two weeks." When Galinda didn't respond, the green girl turned around to see her blonde roommate looking very hurt. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"No, you're right. How did you two meet anyway?"
"When I was younger, I was in the Emerald City hospital for a special procedure. He was visiting with his parents and, apparently, he snuck away and found my room. We talked and played for the rest of the day, and he came back the next day, but I never saw him again after that."
"He didn't write to you?"
Elphaba shook her head. "We were children. We couldn't really write letters."
"He didn't try to communicate with you as you got older?"
Elphaba paused, then shook her head again. "No. I thought he had forgotten about me."
Galinda decided to not comment about how someone could forget someone with green skin and let the subject drop so she could help her friend get ready for the party. "You look lovely, Elphie," she smiled as she brushed her friend's hair.
Elphaba blushed. "Thanks."
"Okay, we're all set!" the blonde said as she grabbed her purse. As soon as the words left her mouth, someone knocked on the door. "I'll get it! Oh, it's Fiyero!"
"Hi," the prince said, smiling softly. His eyes drifted to Elphaba and his smile widened. "Fae, you look beautiful."
"Thanks," Elphaba blushed.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm.
Elphaba nodded and took his arm and the three were off. The walk to the Ozdust wasn't very long and the three chitchatted as if they were long-lost friends. Well, Galinda chitchatted. Fiyero listened and added his two cents when he felt it was appropriate. Elphaba was oddly quiet, which didn't go unnoticed by the prince and the blonde.
"Fae, are you alright?" Fiyero asked when they got to the Ozdust.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine," Elphaba said, giving the prince a small smile.
"We don't have to go in if you don't want to."
"No, I want to. I want to go in," Elphaba said.
Fiyero wasn't completely sure she was telling the truth, but led her inside anyway. Once they got in, they were surrounded by bright lights and blaring music.
"I have arrived, everyone!" Galinda said as she walked in and struck a pose.
At least six boys hurried over to her, all competing for her attention. Elphaba looked around and noticed her sister sitting at a table with Boq. The younger Thropp quickly took notice of her sister and frowned slightly.
'I'll be fine.' Elphaba mouthed.
Nessa narrowed her eyes, but was drawn back to the Munchkin when he said something, causing her to laugh.
"Would you like to dance?" Fiyero asked, gently squeezing Elphaba's arm.
"Sure," Elphaba said after a long pause and offered the prince a small smile as they walked onto the dance floor.
They were met with stares from many of the girls, along a few whispers and sneers, but Elphaba did her best to ignore them. She knew the green girl being escorted to a party by the infamous Winkie prince was bound to cause an uproar. But as a slower song began to play, everything seemed to be blocked out as she danced with Fiyero.
"Elphaba?" Fiyero asked when Elphaba seemed to grow a bit pale. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah… I just need to sit down for a while," the green girl said, slowly closing her eyes against the lights.
The prince gently guided her to a table and helped her sit down. "Do you want some punch?"
Elphaba nodded and the prince went to go get the drink. When he returned, Elphaba's head was resting against her arms and she looked even paler. "Fae?"
"I'm fine," Elphaba said, sitting up and taking the drink. She took a few gulps and seemed to feel a little bit better, but Fiyero was still worried.
"Are you sure?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
"Yes. I'm just not used to all the bright lights and noise. I'll be fine."
"Elphaba, if you begin to feel sick again, please tell me and I'll take you back to your room."
"Fiyero, I'm fine," Elphaba insisted, finishing the drink and standing up. She grabbed the prince's hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.
The prince knew that she didn't really want to dance, but rather prove her point. They shared two dances and Fiyero was beginning to believe that she would be fine, until she expectantly stopped, gasped, and blacked out in his arms.
CLIFFY!
Now that we got the five-second Flinda out of the way, we have much more room for Fiyeraba! And does anyone remember which one of my stories Navon and Alyena are from?
