NellytheActress: He cares about her enough to make sure she stays alive (for Nessa), but nothing extra.

ElphieNeedsAHug: *States at black ball of magic* I'll just be… um… over here *runs and hides*


It was January second when Fiyero finally received a letter from the green girl. When his father said that he had a letter from Munchkinland, he ran out of his room, tripping over his own feet, and practically grabbed the letter from his father's hand before running back up to his room, closing the door behind him. He tore open the envelope with a wide smile on his face, but it slowly faded as he read the letter.

Fiyero,

I'm so sorry that I have to tell you this through a letter, but I have to tell you this now, before we come back to Shiz. This is very hard for me to say, but I… I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore. I can't do this relationship thing. It's too much. I know I said that we would take it slow, but I don't want to do it anymore. There are so many things that could get in the way, and you don't deserve that. You deserve better than a girl who will probably have to spend more time in the hospital than at home for the rest of her life. I'm sorry you got roped into all of this. The feelings you have for me aren't true love, and you would have eventually grown out of it. I wasn't thinking straight and it's my fault. And I… my feelings for you… I'm not in love with you. I'm so sorry for doing this to you. But I must ask that when we return to Shiz, you not try to seek me out to try to talk to me. I… I won't be able to handle it. I just… I need space right now. I'm so sorry.

Elphaba

Fiyero couldn't believe his eyes. Maybe he had read the letter wrong. He had to have read it wrong. He read and reread it again, but the words were still the same. Elphaba had just broken up with him over a letter. What had gone wrong? What had prompted these sudden feelings? Was she alright? Something must have happened to make her change her mind about their relationship. He looked in the envelope and saw the bracelet he had given her. Weakly, he took it out and held it in his hand. She was really breaking up with him. It was all real. A tear slowly fell down his cheek and landed on the letter, right on Elphaba's name.

This must be what it feels like to have your heart broken, the prince thought, staring at the bracelet as if it was a foreign object. How could you do this? I love you, Fae.

Then it hit the prince. He had never told Elphaba that he loved her. Sure, he might have implied that he had feelings for her while they were going on their "unofficial" dates, but he never actually opened his mouth and told her. Was that why she was having doubts? Maybe if he had said it, this wouldn't have happened. But he had also said that they were taking things slow, so that's why he had held of on the three key words until later. He felt so guilty and sad and a mixture of many other emotions he didn't have time to identify. He looked at the letter again and realized that she didn't even use their special nicknames.

Perhaps this is payback for all the hearts I've broken over the years, Fiyero thought miserably, burying his face in his hands. He grunted angrily before picking up the bracelet and throwing it into the garbage. He picked up the wrapped Lurlinemas present he was going to give to Elphaba when they got back from break (he didn't trust it going through the mail) and threw it against the wall, shattering the glass bird that was inside the box. He grabbed the letter, not caring that it was getting crumbled up in his tight fist, and marched downstairs to the parlor.

When the queen and princess heard footsteps, they looked up to see Fiyero march into the parlor. "What's wrong, Yero?" Amalie asked.

The prince ignored his mother and went straight to the fireplace. He watched as the orange and yellow flames burned the brown logs and ripped the letter up before throwing the remains into the fire. It consumed the paper, only adding to the flames. Once he was satisfied, he hurried out and ran up the stairs, slamming his room door behind him.

The female royals exchanged a look before Alyena got up. "I'll go talk to him."

Amalie nodded as she watched her mother-in-law walk up the stairs. She wondered what had made her son so upset and what he had thrown into the fire.

"Yero?" Alyena asked as she knocked on her grandson's door.

"Go away," came Fiyero's muffled response.

His grandmother took that as permission to enter and saw her grandson laying on his bed, his face buried in his pillow. "Yero, what happened?"

The prince's response was muffled by his pillow. Alyena slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed his back. The prince moaned and tried to shake her hand off, but melted under his grandmother's touch.

"Are you ready to tell me what happened?" Alyena asked gently after a while.

The prince slowly sat up and looked at his grandmother through bloodshot eyes. "She… she broke up with me."

"Elphaba?" the queen asked, remembering the letters she had received about the girl that had changed her son.

Fiyero nodded. "Sh-She wrote me a l-letter saying that she didn't want to do it anymore. That she didn't want to be my girlfriend anymore."

"Did she say why?"

"She just said that I deserve better than her, just because she's sick and might continue to be in and out of the hospital. But I still care about her."

"Did she say anything else?"

"She said that she's sorry that she roped me into all of this and that she wasn't thinking straight when she agreed to be my girlfriend. She thinks that I don't truly love her, and she said that she doesn't love me. She even gave back the bracelet I had given her with my birthstone to make our relationship… or the end of it… official."

The queen could tell that her son was in deep pain and tried to think of something to tell him that would comfort him, but nothing came to her mind.

"And she doesn't even want to speak to me. She told me not to try to talk to her when we get back to Shiz," Fiyero continued, obviously not wanting his grandmother to interject.

"Have you told her that you love her?" As soon as Alyena said it, she knew that it was the wrong thing to say at the wrong time.

"No. I didn't. And I'm such an idiot."

"Yero, you're not an idiot."

"I should have told her. We agreed to take it slow since she's never been in a relationship like this and I agreed. We agreed to take it slow and that's why I never told her that I love her. I should have though. This is all my fault!"

"Yero…" the queen whispered, but Fiyero was back to sobbing into his pillow. The queen pulled him up and into a hug, allowing him to cry against her shoulder. She ignored the snot and tears he cried onto her dress as she rocked him in her arms, just like she used to do when he was little.

Slowly, Fiyero's sobs died down and he looked up at the queen. "Nonna?"

"Yes, Yero?" Alyena smiled softly, hearing the old nickname Fiyero had bestowed on her when he was learning to speak. She hadn't heard that nickname in a while, which is why she couldn't help but smile.

"Why did Elphaba do this to me?"

"I don't know, Yero," Alyena said, brushing Fiyero's hair from his forehead. "Only Elphaba can tell you that."

"But she said she doesn't want to talk to me."

"Maybe she will change her mind by the time you get back to Shiz. But Yero, I must ask you to do what she asks and not push her. If she is on the verge of changing her mind again, you don't want to push her back."

The prince considered his grandmother's words. "Okay. I will. Thank you, Nonna."

"You're welcome, Yero," the queen said, kissing his forehead before getting up and leaving, closing the door behind her.

The prince sat for a few clock-ticks on his bed before going to retrieve the box on the ground. He gently shook it, confirming that the glass gift was broken. Sighing, he went to his garbage and was about to throw it away when he saw the bracelet. Slowly, he bent over and picked it up, biting back tears as he ran his finger over the ruby gemstone. He closed his fingers around it as he threw the broken present away, going back to his bed and fell asleep, the bracelet clutched against his chest.


A week later, when it was time to return to Shiz, Fiyero dragged his feet down the stairs, exactly like he did when he was first leaving for Shiz. He really didn't want to go back. Especially knowing that he would be near Elphaba and knowing that she didn't want to speak to him.

His parents and grandparents met him in the foyer. His bags were already in the carriage and the only thing now was for Fiyero to say goodbye.

"Bye, Fiyero," Amalie smiled, hugging her son.

"Bye," Fiyero muttered, his arms hanging limp at his sides.

His father was next, but Fiyero's reaction was the same. The reigning monarchs exchanged a look before embracing their grandson together, whispering words of encouragement to him before releasing him.

The prince didn't smile as he walked to the carriage. The royals watched as the carriage disappeared into the distance, hoping that the young prince would be alright. Once the carriage was a safe distance away from the Vinkun royal castle, Fiyero took out the bracelet from his pocket and rubbed the ruby. His thoughts were consumed by Elphaba, and no matter how hard he tried to push those thoughts and feelings away, they just kept coming back even stronger.

A long carriage ride later, Fiyero was awoken from his nap by the driver to announce their arrival at Shiz. After muttering a quiet thanks, Fiyero opened the door and jumped out. He didn't even wait for his bags as he began to walk across the snow-covered campus.

"Fifi!" a thrilled voice called out.

Fiyero stopped and saw Galinda wave and run towards him. She jumped and wrapped her arms around him, almost tackling him to the ground.

"Oh, Fifi! I've missed you so much! Especially since we didn't write. How many letters did you get from Elphie? I only got one, even though I was writing to her every day. Anyway, how was your break? Mine was thrillifying! What did you get for Lurlinemas? More importantly, what did you give your family for Lurlinemas? Even more importantly, what did you give Elphie for Lurlinemas and what did she give you? Did you even mail your presents, or are did you decide to wait until today to exchange gifts?" she ranted.

The prince frowned and pushed Galinda, rather roughly, away. "No," he frowned before turning and walking away.

The blonde pouted, but quickly sobered as her lips curled into a frown. What got into him? He was acting very distant and modified, and she didn't like it one bit. She turned when she heard horses and saw the official Munchkinland seal. Elphaba, Nessa, and Boq were back. If anyone would be able to make the prince perk back up, Elphaba would.

Galinda waited with a huge smile on her face as she waited for her best friend to emerge. She saw the driver get out and get Nessa's chair before Boq helped the brunette down. After a while, it became apparent that Elphaba wasn't coming out because she wasn't in the carriage to begin with, and the blonde went over to investigate.

"Hello, Nessa. Hello, Biq," Galinda smiled, approaching the two.

The Munchkin boy looked ready to correct the blonde, but closed his mouth. If she hadn't gotten it by now, she probably would never get it. "Hello, Miss Galinda," he blushed, and not just because of the cold weather.

"Miss Galinda," Nessa nodded, though very stiffly.

"Where's Elphie?" the blonde asked.

Nessa frowned and turned away. Boq gave both girls a sympathetic glance before going to help the driver with the bags.

"Nessa, what happened to Elphaba?" Galinda asked again.

"She's in the hospital," the brunette said shortly, as if it wasn't any of Galinda's business to know.

"What happened? Is she alright?" Galinda gasped.

"Of course she's not alright, or else she wouldn't be in the hospital!" Nessa snapped.

The blonde recoiled.

"Nessa, must you be so harsh?" Boq asked, struggling with Nessa's belongings. "You know Galinda didn't mean it like that."

"She has no right to know about Elphaba's personal business," Nessa retorted.

"It was just a simple question, Nessa," Galinda said evenly, having learnt that arguing and getting mad at Nessa would not help the situation. "I'm sorry." And with that, she turned on her heels and marched over to Crage Hall.

"Nessa, was that really necessary?" Boq asked, giving the brunette a look. "You had no reason to snap at Galinda like that."

"Why are you defending her?" Nessa bristled.

"Because you snapped at her for no reason."

"Is it because you still have a crush on her?"

"Nessa –"

"I know it. You're with me, and you still have feelings for Galinda!"

The Munchkin boy growled and placed Nessa's suitcases on her lap before walking off with his own.

"Boq! Where are you going?"

"Until you learn to be nicer, you're on your own. I can't deal with this anymore, Nessa. You're mean to everyone; Galinda, Fiyero, me, and even your own sister, for no reason at all. It's ridiculous!"

"I can't believe you!"

"I can't believe you! I don't know what prompted you to be so mean, but until you figure it out and fix it, I don't want to be around you anymore. Goodbye, Nessa."

"You know, there's a reason why you didn't have any friends when you came here!" Nessa shouted at his back.

The Munchkin stiffened. "And there's a reason why you don't have any friends now." Glaring at the wheelchair-bound girl, he turned and marched back to his room, leaving Nessa with her belongings.


*Cackles and lightning flashes behind her* BOW DOWN BEFORE THE WICKED QUEEN! #NiaHasNoChill