Welcome to "as close to Fiyeraba as we're gonna get." But don't worry. My next story (which I will give a bit of info about in the next chapter) will have lots of Fiyeraba romance.

"Tell me about Shiz," Elphaba said as she sat in the floor with Glinda. The two girls had decided to have a picnic indoors in the parlor, since it was getting too cold outside. "I've always wanted to study there. Even if my aunt does own the school."

Glinda chuckled. "The campus is beautiful. The buildings are old, but very nicely renovated. And your aunt's not so bad. Sure, she strict and… scary, but –"

Elphaba cackled. "She's scary? Annoying and prudent, yes, but scary?"

"Well, she was to me. And I wasn't the only student who thought so. But, she is a good teacher."

"I wish I could have gone. I was taught by my governesses until I was eighteen, and even after that."

"You still had a governess as an adult?" Glinda asked, a bit shocked.

"Well, my aunt started calling them 'companions', but the job description didn't change. They were still stuck here with me and could barely leave the tower. They even had their rooms there."

"They?"

Elphaba smiled slightly. "I wasn't the most… agreeable child growing up. After a few months, my governesses would either be scared of me or so sick of me that they would quit. I didn't care, but my aunt kept hiring new governesses and the cycle would repeat itself. The record for one of them staying here is half a year."

"What's the shortest?"

"Two weeks."

Glinda couldn't help but laugh. The next thing she knew, she was laying on her back, laughter ripping free from her throat and the princess looking down at her, slightly amused.
"I can assure you, my aunt was not laughing," Elphaba chuckled.

Glinda pulled herself together and sat up. "You couldn't have hated all of your governesses. Surely, there must have been one you liked."

"I liked most of them. Those were the ones I allowed to stay. But eventually, I got tired of them. I used my magic, but I never hurt them. I just scared them out of their wits and sent them running out of the tower. I couldn't follow them out, of course."

"Did you miss them?"

Elphaba's face slowly grew sad. "I did. They weren't bad governesses. They actually tried. They all educated me and when I was eighteen, my aunt gave me some of the textbooks from Shiz to study from. They were my sole source of company, after all. Once I became older, and they became 'companions', it was easier for me to get along with them. She sent my last one away right before you and Fiyero came."

Glinda smiled as she took another strawberry. "What would you do?"

"Read, mostly. I would study the textbooks from Shiz. We would talk sometimes, but she mostly stayed in her room, and I stayed in mine. I never saw them as 'friends'."

"They didn't care?"

"I don't know. The job paid very well and some of the ones I had when I was younger managed to survive my magical temper tantrums."

Glinda smiled. She could almost picture little Elphaba, throwing a temper tantrum, complete with magical outbursts.

"I can assure you, no one thought my temper tantrums were cute," Elphaba said, reading Glinda's smile.

The blonde blushed and reached for a sandwich. "So, what would you like to do this afternoon?"

"I don't know. Did you have something planned?"

"Yes, but I needed to make sure you didn't. We're going riding."

"Glinda, it's getting too cold."

"It was too cold for a picnic. It's fine for riding. Plus, I still have to teach you how to ride," the blonde said as she rose to her feet.

Elphaba sighed and allowed the blonde to help her to her feet. "Glin, I really don't know about this."

"Come on, Elphie. Please?"

Elphaba frowned and dragged her feet as Glinda pulled her along. "When will we get to do something that I wish to do?"

"I don't want to sit and read all day," the blonde pouted. "You need fresh air, and that requires being outside."

"I could stand in front of an open window and still get fresh air."

"Oh, come on, you," Glinda said as she pulled the green girl to the door and grabbed two warm riding cloaks. "Put this on."

Elphaba took the dark green cloak from the blonde and followed her to the stables. Their horses were ready and waiting for them; Glinda must have planned the outing ahead of time.

"Ready?" she asked as she took her horses' reins from the stable boy.

"Would you care if I said 'no'?" Elphaba asked, taking the reins of a beautiful, white stallion.

"Don't be scared. Horses are very trustworthy animals."

Elphaba sighed. "How am I even supposed to get on this thing?"

"That's what a mounting block is for," Glinda said as the stable boy brought the block over to them. "Thank you, Hannus."

"You're welcome, Miss Glinda. Enjoy your ride," the stable boy bowed.

Glinda smiled as she stable boy walked away and disappeared from sight. "Now, first you step up," Glinda instructed.

"What if he walks away?" Elphaba asked.

"Don't worry. He won't. Trust me."

"There's a lot of trust involved, isn't there?"

"This is all about trust. It's also a major component in friendship," Glinda smiled.

Elphaba nodded and stepped up onto the block. Glinda kept the horse steady, in case it actually decided to run away.

"Now what?"

"Now, put your left foot in the stirrup and hoist yourself up into the saddle."

"Glin, I have a bad feeling about this."

"Elphie, everything will be fine," Glinda said. "The horse isn't going anywhere."

The green girl took a deep breath and hoisted herself onto the horse. Glinda helped her adjust the stirrups to fit her long legs before slowly leading the horse away.

Elphaba sat stiff in the saddle, her breath coming out rigid. She didn't like being this animal. She preferred it when her feet were on solid ground.

"Ready?" Glinda asked, coming up next to Elphaba on her horse.

"No," Elphaba muttered.

Glinda chose to ignore Elphaba's lack of enthusiasm and urged the horse forward. Elphaba's horse started to move and she leaned forward, clutching his mane for dear life.

"Elphie, sit up," Glinda instructed.

Elphaba slowly exhaled as she pushed herself up.

"See, this isn't so bad," Glinda said after a while as she rode next to the emerald princess. "Elphie, are you alright?"

The green girl paled. She didn't like riding at all. "Glin… I…"

"You want to stop?"

Unable to form words, Elphaba nodded.

Gently tugging back on the reins, Glinda brought her horse to a stop and dismounted. She helped the green girl down, which took longer than she expected. Once Elphaba's feet were back on the ground, she broke into a run.

"Elphaba!" Glinda called, but the green girl didn't hear her, or she was ignoring her.

The world whizzed past Elphaba as she hurried back into the palace. She didn't care where she was going. All she knew was she had to get away. She didn't know why she reacted that way with Glinda. The blonde was only trying to help her. Though the question was 'how'. How was riding supposed to help her? More importantly, what did she need help with? These questions haunted Elphaba as she ran down the halls, ignoring the maids who asked her what was wrong. She ran into the first room she noticed and closed the door behind her. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and found herself in a room she hadn't entered in a long time.

Her mother's music room had always been a sanctuary for her. She faintly remembered sitting in here with her parents and singing at the end of the day. Her mother would play the piano and her father would sometimes play the guitar or dance with her. That was at a time when everything seemed perfect to her. A large grand piano sat in the middle of the room, and it surprisingly hadn't collected any dust. She doubted her father went in there since her mother's death, so the maids must have kept it in good condition. She slowly walked up to the piano, as if in a trance. It was opened and she trailed her fingers lightly across the black and white keys. She pressed down on one of the keys and gasped softly. She pressed down on another and smiled. She played a scale and hummed along, a feeling of familiar warmth she hadn't felt in a long time overcoming her.

"Elphaba?"

The princess jumped and turned around, but relaxed, seeing Fiyero standing in the doorway. "Oh. Hi, Fiyero."

The captain smiled as he walked in the room. He had developed a sort of friendship with the princess. Of course, he was not as close to her as Glinda, but it was better than her trying to kill him. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Some of the maids saw you running through the halls, crying."

"Yes, I'm fine," Elphaba said, slowly rubbing her cheek.

Fiyero didn't look convinced, but didn't question any farther as he slowly walked into the room. Elphaba's fingers trailed on the keys and she occasionally pressed down on the keys, humming along.

"You like to sing?"

Elphaba realized what she was doing and pulled her hand away. "I… it's been a while since the last time I sang."

"Well, it's been a while since I've played the piano," Fiyero smiled, sitting down on the piano bench. "Maybe we can brush up on our skills together."

Elphaba stiffened and slowly turned away. She heard Fiyero get up and she slowly turned around, seeing Fiyero going through the music books. "Fiyero…"

"Here's one," the captain smiled, pulling out one of the books and walking back to the piano. He opened the book and began to play. The song was slow, and in a minor key. "This one's too sad," Fiyero said, turning the page. "This one looks better." The next song was a bit faster, and in a major key. Elphaba smiled softly as she listened to the prince playing the piano.

"You're… really good," she said once the song finished.

"Thanks," Fiyero smiled as he stood up again to get another book. "What's this?" he asked, pulling out a notebook. 'Melena's Songbook' was written on the cover. He didn't know the queen wrote songs. He went back to the piano and opened the book. The song and notes were written in a neat, cursive handwriting. He slowly started to play the first song, singing along.

"Oh, the waves roll low, and the waves roll high. And so it goes, under the bright, blue, endless sky. Waves try to measure the days that we treasure. Wave hello, and wave goodbye."

Elphaba stiffened. She had heard that song before. Where had she heard that song before?

"Wait…" she whispered, turning towards the prince. "What's that song?"

"It's called 'Fabala's Lullaby'," Fiyero said, reading the title of the song.

Elphaba slowly walked over to the prince and looked at that song. "It's been forever since I've heard that song. Could you… play it again?"

Fiyero smiled and positioned his fingers on the keys to play the song again.

"Oh, the waves roll low, and the waves roll high. And so it goes, under the bright, blue, endless sky. Waves try to measure the days that we treasure. Wave hello, and wave goodbye," Elphaba sang softly.

"You have a beautiful voice, Elphaba," Fiyero smiled. "You should sing more often."

Elphaba looked down and turned away. "I… there wasn't a lot of singing after…"

Fiyero softened. "Is it still painful for you to remember your mother?"

A single tear slid down the green girl's cheek and that was all the confirmation Fiyero needed. Slowly, the prince rose from the piano bench and slowly wrapped his arms around the princess. He was surprised when Elphaba suddenly clung to him and sobbed onto his shoulder. He whispered soft nothings into her ear until she slowly calmed down.

"I… I'm sorry," Elphaba said as she pulled away, her eyes red and puffy.

The prince smiled. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Elphaba. You needed that. But may I offer some advice?"

Elphaba paused before nodding.

"Instead of remembering what happened after your mother's death, remember the good times you had together. I know you'll never forget what happened or what your father did to you after that, but you won't get anywhere by dwelling on the past like that."

Elphaba slowly looked lifted her gaze to the prince. "How?" she asked in a soft voice.

"Try singing about it. I'd love to hear you sing again."

Elphaba slowly approached the piano. "Under the bright, blue endless sky," she sang softly.

"Did you used to sing together?" Fiyero interrupted gently.

Elphaba nodded. "Yes, we did. Every evening before bed."

"Remember that," Fiyero said, scooting over to make room for Elphaba.

"I remember." The emerald princess sat down on the bench and began to play the song again. "Wait, I remember that. How I know that song. I remember sitting in the moonlight and that feeling. What's that feeling? I remember," she sang softly. The green girl slowly stood up and walked away. Fiyero immediately took over and played a random ballad he made up on the spot. "Yes, how I know that song. Though it's been so long. I remember happiness without a floor or ceiling. What's that feeling? I remember."

Elphaba smiled as she danced around the room, soft giggled escaping from her lips. Fiyero continued to play the piano, watching Elphaba and smiling. "Oh! I remember her. And how we were. I remember wondering what the evening would be bringing. I remember singing. Under the bright blue, endless sky."

The music intensified and Elphaba looked back at Fiyero. "And I, I remember, I remember music. For I, I remember her. I remember music. And I remember love. Love."

The song ended and Fiyero stood up and pulled the princess into a hug. "Feel better?"

"I do. Thank you, Fiyero," Elphaba smiled, snuggling closer to the prince.

Fiyero smiled and looked up, seeing the Wizard standing in the doorway. He wondered if he had been standing there the entire time.

"Elphaba?"

"Yes?"

"Turn around."

Elphaba turned in the prince's arms and gasped, seeing her father standing in the doorway. "F-Father?"

The Wizard smiled softly and slowly entered the room. "Hello, Fabala."

"What are you doing here?"

"Elphaba, you need to let go of the past," Fiyero whispered.

"So what am I supposed to do? Just run into his arms and let go because… because…" Elphaba looked at her father once more and tears formed in her eyes. "Because…"

"Because?" Fiyero gently prompted.

"Because that's exactly what I want to do," Elphaba said as she ran to her father and tightly wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

The Wizard quickly wrapped his arms around his daughter and kissed her hair. He felt Elphaba's chest vibrate against him as she cried and tried to soothe her. "It's alright, Fabala. I'm here," he whispered softly.

"I missed you, Father," Elphaba whispered, clinging to him even tighter.

"I missed you, too, Fabala. I'm so sorry about everything."

"I know. I forgive you, Father. I'm sorry, too."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Fabala," the Wizard whispered.

The two stayed like that. The Wizard held his daughter, gently stroking her hair. Elphaba had stopped crying and was now simply clinging to her father, as if trying to make up for lost time.

The Wizard looked up and smiled Fiyero. "Thank you, Captain."

Fiyero bowed. "My pleasure, Your Ozness."

Songs Used:

Athena's Song (I changed the name to Fabala's Lullaby, because it made more sense for this story) and I Remember (I took out a part of the song that didn't fit the story) both from "The Little Mermaid 3: Ariel's Beginning"

One more chapter to go!