"Two green girls won't attract twice the attention, and people will easily accept your skin tone if they see mine like this too. Don't forget, I'm well known as the practical joker. People will be wondering exactly what we did to each other, did you strike first and I retaliated, or did I decide to 'test' you and you got the better of me? No one will think you're weird or unusual if you stick with me, my presence alone usually signals trouble. People will probably give you a lot of respect for apparently getting one over me, but also for being willing to go around like this. Come on." Phoenix extended an emerald hand. Rose took it and uncurled herself from her sitting position.

Phoenix then led Rose out of the bathroom, the confident witch leading the hesitant witch, out of their solitude and through the unknown crowd of lesser mortals, revelling in the amused stares and murmured whispers which passed them. Phoenix gave a wave to her school friends, and the students laughed as if she had told a joke. She looked to Rose encouragingly, and it was the first time Phoenix saw her smile.

It was official. Teachers did not have an appreciation for the colour pink.

By some miracle, Rose had just about survived her first day, despite the fact that she was as green as sin, and was being led around by someone equally as green. It didn't help that Phoenix's bright red hair was clashing horrendously with her skin, a fact that seemed to energise Phoenix even more. No one had passed comment on Rose's green colouring; as anticipated, it was immediately understood when the fluorescent Phoenix would enter directly behind her. The one curious thing all the teachers had commented on was that the colour of Rose's ink was 'not permissible', as Professor Milta had put it. It seemed as if they were trying to find some legitimate thing on which to comment, as skin colour was obviously a taboo subject.

Teachers here did not have an appreciation for fine calligraphy, nor did they have an appreciation for the colour pink. The ink Rose was using was a fine, warm colour, not too watery and light, not too dark and garish. A perfect colour for expressing the warmth and individuality of her personality, but also acted as a nice subtle reminder of her name. In sophisticated societies, it was fashionable for someone, when new, to leave a 'hint' of their name, to ease peoples memory. After all, if you want to be popular, you're going to make sure people can remember what to call you.

Rose slipped the offensive coloured ink jar into her bag and extracted her timetable. One hour to go till she was free, and she couldn't figure out where she was supposed to go. She felt foolish, but surely the 'lesson' couldn't be as simple as she thought it was? The classroom was emptying fast, Phoenix waiting a respectable distance from her, and Rose was determined not so show such a weakness as asking for help. However, since Phoenix had been adamant that they stick together for the rest of the day (something which Rose was actually quite thankful for), Rose knew that she would need to do the unthinkable, and highly unfashionable, and ask her for help.

Glancing at Phoenix a couple of times awkwardly, Rose slipped the timetable into her hand without a single utterance. Taking it with a slight smirk Phoenix gave it a look, and instantly understood her problem.

"'Free Study' just means a free lesson." Phoenix paused, looking at Rose's face for confirmation. "You're going to be picked up at the end of the school day, aren't you?" She surmised in an even low tone. Rose gave a reluctant nod.

"Look, it might just be better if I walked you back. You don't know the town yet, and I can imagine it'll get quite awkward if your mum arrives and finds her precious little daughter has been turned green." She ignored Rose's quick glare, continuing, "Probably best if I explain the situation to her. Or some version of the situation, is probably more suitable. Which house do you live?"

"The one at the end of Old Waters Road."

Phoenix gave a low whistle. "Oh, yeah, I know the place. There was a massive accident about 5 years ago, the place nearly burnt down. A problem with the gas, I think. Big, major stuff. Which has completely been sorted out now and is absolutely safe." She added when Rose gave her an exasperated look.

Phoenix lead Rose through a few backstreets and out into the open village square, a lot quicker then Rose and her father had managed to get to the school that morning. What surprised Rose however was that the square was teaming with life. When she and her father had passed the square that morning, they only clipped the edge, and could only see the crowds which they just associated with the morning rush to work. But apparently, the 'rush to work' didn't really exist, and according to Phoenix, the town market every Monday, Thursday and Saturday was their work, for a lot of the people in the village. It was their place to trade.

Pulling Rose through the crowds between various stalls, Phoenix gave her a mischievous smile as she pointed out where various things were sold, and the people who sold them.

Just as they were approaching a stall layered with various jars and herbs and powders, Phoenix violently pulled Rose away and behind a nearby stall. Crouching so they weren't visible over the display, Phoenix cautiously peered around the side, her eyes fixed on some unknown enemy.

"What in Oz name is going on? Are you crazy?" Rose spat angrily, her voice just above a stage whisper. Phoenix's head whipped back round and she gave Rose a slightly deranged expression to silence her. Rose grudgingly remained quiet, and looked up at the tall figure of the stall tender.

He placed a lettuce into a bag, handed it across the stall, and then returned Rose's semi bemused look with one of amused confusion.

"Why, Miss Rachaels and friend. To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?"

Phoenix's head revolved slowly to regard him with a dangerously mischievous expression on her cocked head. She opened her mouth to retort-

"Good evening, Mrs Rachaels. I had some more Blackstone imported in, just for you," came a voice, wafting from somewhere a short distance away.

Phoenix's face shattered. "Oh, shit."

It was the tender of the apothecary stall. The woman who now stood before it was obviously Phoenix's mother. Her dark hair was pulled away from her face severely, but let to fall down to her waist. Her floor length dress was made from a plain worn-black material, simply tailored to fit her shapely form. A decorative black stone shone from its position on her chest. The neckline was high, and its long sleeves ended just past the wrist, as subtly gloved hands roamed and collected the mysterious objects on the stall.

Phoenix continued to crouch in sulky frustration, muttering words under her breath.

"No! No, no, please don't say it, please don't -" Rose turned in amazement at Phoenix's monologue, her face quite plainly communicating 'are you completely deranged?'

"And I also ordered in more Emerillium for your daughter. Tell her it'll be ready for collection next week, but I want the money in full, no credit or bargaining this time. I ordered it submerged in the Quoxwood oil like she asked."

Phoenix groaned. There was a short pause, then-

"Excuse me?"

"I am so dead." Phoenix confirmed, as her head fell, mortified. Still, the man continued on, undaunted.

"Emerillium. It's an extremely rare green mineral, so rare, in fact-"

"I know what Emerillium is, you fool." Mrs Rachaels shot at him, her voice cold. A couple of small children started to play hide and seek amidst her lengthy skirts. Her face softened to one of disbelief.

"I am a Witch; you of all people should know better. I've been researching its effects for the past decade; do not think that I am ignorant. I know how volatile it is. What do you think you are doing, selling something like that to a child; my daughter no less?"

The stall tender stood speechless for a few moments, before stuttering excuses began to issue forth. The young children continued to play and pull at Mrs Rachaels skirts.

Something within her snapped. In a split second, Mrs Rachaels had sunk down to her knees to stare them down at eye level, stopping one of the kids in its tracks inches from her face. Waves of ice emanated from her coolly calm persona; the stillness unnerved the two children.

"If you do not stop running around my legs, I will hex you. Understand?"

The small child gave a petrified nod, and immediately sprinted away from her with his friend. Mrs Rachaels watched them for a second, then rose to her full height. She turned away from the apothecary stall to make her way home when-

"Ah, Mrs Rachaels! I would like to have a word with you…" The addressed woman turned around to regard the approaching figure with frustration. The red skirt suit of the headmistress was unmistakable.

Mrs Rachaels immediately sunk both hands onto her hips. "What has she done now?" It seemed that this conversation was one which they had had many times before.

Headmistress Penny-Foster waved her hands in exasperation. "She has turned the new girl green! Yes, green. As in 'Wicked Witch of the where-ever-the-hell-she-was-from' green."

Mrs Rachaels stared for a moment in shocked disbelief, before turning to the apothecary stall tender reproachfully. "Emerillium!"

But the headmistress wasn't finished yet. "She's also turned herself green! I will not tolerate this; two of my students wondering around the school looking like that, causing all sorts of mayhem." She carried on undaunted.

Mrs Rachaels face darkened. "Looking like what?"

Penny-Foster appeared not to have heard her. "I'm sorry, Mrs Rachaels, but this really is quite enough. I can not allow her to continue the almost constant disruption and disregard for the rules. Madame Pritchard tells me she is refusing to cooperate with her in the annual GreenDay Production. I will not have it. As I told you last year, all students are expected to contribute, whether on stage or off it. Please, make sure she gets the message, and make sure that when she arrives on school grounds tomorrow, that her skin is as the Unnamed God intended. Good day, Mrs Rachaels."

Mrs Penny-Foster turned her heal and left the fuming Mrs Rachaels in her wake.

Phoenix saw her cue to make a run for it. She grabbed Rose's shoulder and gestured with her head. They leapt up and started running.

"PHOENIX!!" Her mother roared.

And they continued running.

Thanks to readers and reviewers alike. Oh, and one more thing, HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!

Just a few things I want to point out. Phoenix mentioned (without naming) Emerillium in the previous chapter. It is the green pigmentation which was used in her greenifying potion, and was also the mineral which made Elphaba green. Imagine Emerillium having similar properties to Alkali metals. It is rather explosive when the raw thing comes in contact with water, which is why it is kept submerged in oil. That is why it burns Elphaba's skin, as though it is not in a pure form, it reacts with the water. And yes, I know the name isn't very imaginative, but if you come up with something better, please let me know!

The next few chapters are going to be about Phoenix and Rose becoming friends (including a 'secrets scene'- watch out for that!), plus a few more of Phoenix's pranks as the Village prepare for GreenDay. Oh, and yes, the very next chapter, you will be meeting Rose's mother, Glinda, and finding out what the past 18 years has done to her. After that, preparations for the school's GreenDay Production begins, and from there the plot twists and turns.

I am currently making a series of illustrations for a few of my fanfics. This one will have several, so look out for more information about them. Visit my website for details.

Any questions, please feel free to ask. Any comments or suggestions, please please let me know.