"Selky!" cried Shay and Izo, Caya and Brrr's twin Liger Cubs. Already they were entering the early stages of adolescence; Animal children matured faster than their human counterparts.

"Hey guys," Selky responded as she was engulfed by two energetic balls of fur. Shay was the larger of the two Cubs. She was soft spoken and shy but excelled at all sorts of physical activity. Izo was smaller and snappier; he had mastered the art of sarcasm long ago. Despite this the male Cub remained a bit of a cry baby.

"How was the ride over?" Shay wondered politely.

"Horrible," the raven haired student informed them, stretching impressively. "Someone needs to invent more comfortable carriages." It was the weekend and Selky was spending it in the Emerald Palace. In fact she spent every weekend in the Emerald Palace; it was the girl's only escape from Curyn and her vicious cohorts.

"Hey Selky!" Glinda cried as she flounced down the staircase to capture her unofficial niece in an enthusiastic hug. "Elphie's in a meeting but she told me to tell you 'hi'." There was a moment of silence as the foursome moved deeper into the palace. "So how are things with you and Curyn?"

"Do you think Elphaba could turn her into a frog for me?" the raven haired girl replied. Selky didn't refer to the green woman as 'mom' unless she was in the room with her.

"I'll take that as a no," Izo chuckled. "Though I'm sure you aren't a party to room with either."

"That's debatable," Selky shrugged with a mild grin at her young friend's comment.

"Do you have any other friends at Shiz?" Glinda inquired.

"Zanzan's bearable on good days," the student admitted. Her mouth was twisted into a pained grimace; Selky's best friend was killed by Madame Morrible just like her parents.

"Are you still part of the sparring club?" Shay inquired, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Yep," Selky replied with a broad smile. "It's so much fun."

"Sparring club?" Glinda asked, her voice sharp with curiosity.

"Sword fighting," Izo clarified, his eyes shining with admiration. "Selky's really good."

"Well the teachers don't let us fight with real swords," she insisted modestly. "We use wooden staffs."

"I still think it's cool," the young Liger told her.

***

"As my general you are expected to carry out your missions quickly and unnoticeably no matter how pointless they may seem at the moment."

"Yes milady."

"It is critical that no one suspect our upcoming strike."

"I assure you we are experts at concealment."

"Even experts have been known to fail. My first task will push you to the limits of your abilities; it requires the infiltration of the Emerald Palace."

"We can handle such a task milady."

"Are you sure? It's the most heavily guarded location in Oz."

"I said we can handle such a task."

"Very well. You must infiltrate the palace without causing a commotion and bring me Glinda the Good. I want her alive."

"Is there any particular reason?"

"Not that you need to know of. That will be all."

"Very good milady."

***

"Happy birthday!" Selky walked into the Emerald Palace's dining room to find it decked out in colorful fabric and streamers. A massive cake was situated between stacks of glass places and shining silverware. The room was packed with all the usual suspects; Elphaba, Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Caya, Brrr, Izo, Shay and Chistery.

"You remembered?" Selky's voice was thick with surprise. The green witch flinched slightly at her daughter's assumption that such an important date would be forgotten.

"Of course we remembered," Glinda chirped, shuffling forward with a package wrapped in vivid violet paper. Warily Selky accepted the gift and removed the wrapping. Inside was a dress. It wasn't what she would have expected from the blonde witch; there was no fluff or sequins to be seen. In fact the gown was plain and black, curved to fit the birthday girl's body.

"It's amazing," Selky enthused, catching her unofficial aunt in a one armed hug. "Thanks."

"It's from Boq too," Glinda informed her. "He carried the bags."

"Thank you Uncle Boq," Selky called.

"You're welcome Selk Selk," the munchkin replied with a somewhat mischievous grin.

"Open ours next!" Izo cried, gesturing to a large box on the table. Curiously Selky approached and flipped the lid open. Lying inside was a double bladed short sword, gleaming wickedly. Her jaw dropped.

"This is too much," she insisted, turning to Caya and Brrr. "It's a magnificent weapon; I can't even begin to consider how much it must have cost."

"Let's just say we don't owe you any more birthday presents for awhile," the Tiger teased with a toothy smile.

"Can you show us how to fight?" Izo begged, jumping up and down eagerly.

"Not right now!" Brrr said sternly.

"I'll show you tomorrow," Selky promised the disappointed Ligers. "There are some fighting dummies in the Gale Force barracks."

"Besides there's one more present," Fiyero informed his daughter, gesturing to Elphaba. The green girl held out an elongated package swathed in crinkly brown paper. Selky ran her hands over the gift, trying to figure out what the simple paper could conceal.

"Just open it already," Elphaba growled after a moment of impatience.

"Fine," Selky replied, ripping off the wrapping in one quick movement. In her hands she held a broom. The elegant handle was carved from smooth black wood. At one end there was an eruption of ashy colored twigs that perfectly accented the overall design.

"I thought you'd want one with a little more style than mine," the green woman explained with a fond smirk. "Now you won't have to take that uncomfortable carriage." Awkward silence spanned and Elphaba got nervous. "If you don't like it I can…" She was cut off when Selky threw her arms around the raven haired witch.

"Thank you!" she cried excitedly. "It's amazing."

***

Selky zipped through her dorm room window and landed on her bed with an undignified flop. Flying didn't come as naturally to her as it did to her mother. A few hours later Curyn entered through the door. "You're late!" the raven haired girl snapped, trying to get on her roommate's nerves.

"Well we can't all come and go by broom," the strawberry blonde retorted, taking in the odd flying mechanism. "Are you going to become the next wicked witch?"

"Actually I am learning some sorcery from my mom," Selky lied. "If you aren't careful I might turn you into a frog."

"Well your mother would know all about frogs," Curyn snarled maliciously.

"You…you…foul swine!" Selky roared. "How dare you criticize the woman putting Oz back together because of her skin color!"

"I wasn't referring to her verdigris," Curyn replied curtly. "I was referring to the fact that she adopted you." A cruel snicker curled from her mouth.

"We'll see how much you're laughing when the Gale Force throws you in prison," Selky growled, though they both knew it was a hollow threat.

More plotlessness but hopefully the suspense is building…

Don't worry Selky and Curyn will learn to get along…eventually….