Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked and no profit was made from this story.

A/N: I hope you enjoy reading this. Please review, reviews are always appreciated.

Chapter 6:

Morrible woke that morning to find Winter singing. Morrible stared at the girl. She sung better than most, it was interesting because she sung a soft melody in a high pitch about broken hearts and picking yourself up again. Morrible laughed and Winter's face went red.

Winter looked at the other girl, "I'm sorry did I wake you?"

Morrible smiled, "No."

Winter's looked confused, "Why'd you laugh?"

Morrible shrugged, "Its not everyday one finds themselves waking to singing. Falling asleep to definitely but never waking up. I just thought it an unusual situation."

Winter smiled, "I don't think I know anyone strange as us or our friends."

Morrible agreed, "True, only yesterday Slander thought he'd caught my heart. Maybe not but he definitely caught my attention."

Winter asked, "So what did you do yesterday?"

Morrible laughed, "Sorry I'm not telling."

Winter frowned, "Why not?"

Morrible replied, "Because it's of no matter. Anyway we've got to get to class."

Winter sighed, "You wake early and that's your first thought. My your so monotone."

Morrible laughed, "And you're so unexpected that you're like a brown box. Who knows what's in you?"

Winter laughed, "Oh I'm flattered."

Morrible replied, "As am I."

The girls began laughing as a tap rattled their door.

Morrible sighed, "I'm getting sick of answering that door."

Winter rolled her eyes and answered. She opened it to Slander.

He laughed, "It's just me."

Morrible picked up a sock and threw it at him, "Go away or I'll turn you into a toad."

He shook his head, "No you wouldn't. You'd miss me too much."

Morrible glared, "Try me."

At that Slander left with a smiled.

Winter shook her head, "So your friends then."

Morrible looked at her, "I'm almost sacred to ask."

Winter laughed, "If you'd just started going out, you wouldn't be able to stay away from each other. No necessarily kissing but your eyes would continually glance at each other and you wouldn't generally be able to think of anyone else. However that's generally only when there's attraction. He definitely showed those very symptoms."

Morrible shook her head, "I don't know whose worse, him or you."

Winter shrug, "I'm hardly that bad. Besides I'm bored don't blame me if I think it would be interesting if someone I knew had a love interest I might be less bored. You know they say scandal is happening all over Shiz and I have no idea what is happening."

Morrible shook her head, "I have no idea how we got to that topic and I don't care. I'm going to class. I couldn't careless for gossip."

Winter looked at her, "And that's why you're no fun."

Morrible then blinked, "I just realised where all in a main building and there are no male and female dormitories.'

Winter raised her eyebrows, "Now you're confusing me."

Morrible shook her head, "Ignore that. I think I'm an idiot."

Winter laughed, "If you're an idiot I'm a toucan."

Morrible forced her face to stay blank. "I didn't realise you had such a huge beak."

Winter rolled her eyes, "Class is looking good for a change."

Morrible smiled, "Well at least something positive came from this discussion."

Winter smiled, "Come on Miss Monotone or we'll miss class. I bet it'd make the front page of the news."

Morrible got up and they walked out the door.

Morrible retorted playfully, "Right after you make the headlines. You actually want to go to class."

Winter glanced at her watch. They really were running late. So she did the responsible thing and ran with Morrible quick to follow.

The teacher walked in. Her name was Miss Hawk. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a bun. She was middled aged with a look of sternness that appeared strange in contrast to her soft features. She wore a black blouse and a long black dress with white poker dots.

Her icy blue eyes looked over the class expectantly. "I'm not sure what to think of you but I suppose you'll all have to do. What do you know of Oz's history? Anyone care to share?"

Winter raised her hand hesitantly.

Miss Hawk smiled, "What is it dear?"

Winter glanced to Morrible and felt foolish as she stood. "That Oz has been through too many civil wars, which has resorted in its lack of growth in the past century. That the Ozma is struggling to keep all of Oz in peace."

Winter immediately sat feeling rather silly, if not ill.

Miss Hawk smiled, "Very good Miss Winter. That regardless of how controversial is correct."

Winter smiled in relief and looked at Morrible slightly gratefully. Morrible just smiled back.

Miss Hawk asked again, "What else do you know?"

Slander responded, "That in the past fifty years women have gained their rights through careful and peaceful protest."

Miss Hawk laughed, "Yes, again good. Well class it would appear you're a little brighter than I thought. I trust you will continue to surprise me. Now please follow what I've written on the board and copy it down and then you'll follow my lecture."

By then end everyone felt shocked. They'd just learnt about things that people never uttered. The things that were to be left it the closet. Things like how there have been a minority group plotting to take down the Ozma and such.

Winter whispered, "I think I've found my favourite lesson."

Morrible replied, "I couldn't agree more."

They turned the corner to see Gildon with a young golden haired blonde girl. She was tall, with sharp blue eyes.

Morrible stared, both of them were fighting.

Glindon sighed, "Sasha will you stop."

She frowned, "I don't see why I should. I'll spend my time with whomever I want."

He scolded, "You're worrying everyone."

She glared, "I don't care. Our parents didn't care before why should they now?"

Gildon gave up and she paced away, angrily trying to compose herself. Why couldn't he just ignore her like everyone else did? Why did he have to care so much and why did she love him all the more for it?

Morrible approached him, "What was that?"

He sighed, "Nothing. She's my older sister. She worries me. I hate the company she keeps. So when I tell her my concerns she just runs and tells me to mind myself. That it had nothing to do with me."

Winter frowned, "What do you mean?"

Morrible replied, "He means that she is a harlot."

Winter whispered softly, "You mean she sleeps around."

Gildon put his hand over his worried face. "I have to go."

At that he went to go after her and Winter was about follow but Morrible caught her arm.

Morrible whispered softly to the girl, "It's none of our business."

Winter frowned, "I just wanted to help."

Morrible looked at the girl gently, "I know but it's none of our business and even if we wanted to help we couldn't. It's not something that we should get involved into."

Winter nodded, "I suppose so."

Morrible sighed, "Family matters are best left in the family. Winter…I don't think there is much we could do even if we tried to do anything. It seems to be something that we wouldn't understand without the whole story and as far as we know, Gildon doesn't know the story either."

Winter looked down, "Yeah, I know. Doesn't stop me from worrying though."

Morrible put her arms around the girl. "I know. It worries me too. Come on lets go I believe we have a few classes left."

Winter nodded though hardly in the spirit for classes. "Yeah let's go."

Morrible fell asleep that night staring after thinking things over. She'd thought about everyone and couldn't help but worry slightly. Though she knew better than to act, acting quickly without any information or plan was rash and reckless. She'd wait until she decided what to do, it was the only plan she could think of.

Winter however stayed awake barely sleeping that night. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to help. Her friend was hurting and she felt helpless. She couldn't do anything and it literally wracked her.

Morrible woke the next morning to find Winter sitting up in bed writing.

Morrible asked quietly, "What are you doing?"

Winter looked up, "I'm…I don't know. I'm trying to distract myself. I just feel awful."

Morrible looked at the other girl gently. "You shouldn't feel upset. It has nothing to do with us."

Winter whispered, "Is that meant to help. I saw my friend literally broken like I've never seen before. He looked so lost and I can't help him Morrible. Even if I tried. I hate being in situations like that. I've been in too many situations Morrible where I can't help things. That things fall in front of me and I couldn't be of any help. I can't do anything. I hate feeling helpless and I just did.

"When I was seven my mother had a child, a young boy and he died after a few days. Just that long and she lost him. She had looked…I wasn't able to do anything. No one talks about him but ever since then I've hated being helpless and I can't stand any situation where I can't do anything. I hate it."

Morrible stared, "I lost my parents when I was nine. I know what feels to be alone. To not being able to turn to anyone and it's scary. So I learnt to be self-reliant. Winter everyone goes through things, things they'd rather forget but it's impossible. It's part of life. What you learn and grow from it is your choice. However if you can't control something just know it's not your fault because you have to accept it because if you don't it'll eat you up."

Winter nodded, "I know but every time I see that look, I see my mother and I feel like that child again."

Morrible put her hand on the girl's shoulder, "You're not a child. You're a young woman. Helplessness isn't a sign of weakness; it shows that where just human."

Winter put her arms around the girl, "Okay."

Morrible stood still in shock for a moment and then hugged the girl with a smile. She wondered how long this girl had felt this way and how many it affected her life. She never thought that anything should hurt someone so badly that they broke down like that almost ten years later. Unfortunately these things happened. She could only hope that she's helped and not made anything worse.

Morrible woke at night to hear a tap at her window. She yawned putting on a dark blue robe, slipping on some slippers she looked out the window. There was Slander throwing rocks at her window.

She rolled her eyes and there he was dressed into a nice navy suit standing next to Gildon with Sasha.

She opened the window and yelled, "What is it?"

Slander shouted back, "We were going to go to a near by town and were wondering if you and Winter would come with us."

Winter got up rubbing her eyes, "Why not? It could be fun."

Morrible uttered, "I'm out numbered."

Gildon yelled, "What was that?"

Morrible shouted back, "I said we'd be delighted too."

Morrible closed her window and drew the curtains. She honestly didn't want to go but she didn't want to miss anything. Thus the reason to why she was putting on a nice well fitted dark blue dress that ended to her knee.

Morrible looked up and saw Winter wearing a nice yellow dress.

Winter sighed, "You look dead."

Morrible raised her eyebrows, "Thank you. I'm afraid you look worse."

Winter smiled, "Thank you."

At that the girls walked down the stairs and met up with the rest of them.

Winter smiled, "So where are we going?"

Gildon replied, "There's this place called the Philosophy Club. I've always been curious about that place."

Sasha smiled, "I'm here to watch my little brother. Anything can happen there and someone needs to watch out for him."

Morrible exhaled, "Why are we going?"

Slander laughed, "Why not? Tomorrow we don't have classes it's our one day off in the week. Why not take full advantage?"

Sasha countered, "Why not indeed."

Morrible smiled, "Let's just go. I want to get it over with."

Slander sighed, "You make it sound like a death penalty."

Morrible glanced at him as the got inside the carriage. "Don't push it. I'm still thinking about turning you into a toad."

He smiled, "So you can kiss me and turn me into your prince."

Winter laughed, "You really do flatter yourself."

Winter woke that morning with a splitting headache. Last night was nothing but a blur. She looked to see Morrible reading her book at their desk.

Winter whispered, "What happened?"

Morrible laughed, "Last night was an experience. You drank something and well…you acted strangely."

Winter tried to concentrate. "Don't talk too loudly, your hurting my head. What did I do?"

Morrible turned to the girl. "You just became different. Like you were willing to do things that you normally wouldn't agree to. The boys drank the same thing. Sasha and me were the only ones who wouldn't touch the stuff. She took care of the boys making sure they didn't do anything stupid. I made sure you didn't do anything either. I think it was some sort of drug. Whatever it was I'm glad it's over. I swear you tried to hop over to every boy in there. At times I had to restrain you."

Winter rubbed her forehead. "I'm glad I can't remember. It sounds terrible. I didn't do anything did I?"

Morrible smiled, "No you didn't. Though there were a few close calls. I say in future we stay away from that place."

Winter laughed, "I love how you're always so suitable. Have you ever done anything reckless?"

Morrible closed her book. "I came with you last night didn't I?"

Winter pushed her hair back. "You know what I mean. You're always so sensible. Haven't you ever done something reckless just to be reckless?"

Morrible shook her head. "Never."

Winter put her hand through her hair and leaned back. "I just knew that. I wish you would. You could have fun."

Morrible shook her head. "Then where would we be. We would've woken in a strange place and I wouldn't have walked you upstairs to your room."

Winter laughed, "True. Was I really that bad?"

Morrible nodded. "Yes. We don't want to get into detail."

Winter smiled as she got up, rubbing her head. "I'll take your word for it."

Morrible helped the girl to her feet stabling her. "Take it easy today. You're still a little unsteady."

Winter put her hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry I can take it from here."

Winter got up and went to get out of her yellow dress and went into the bathroom with a hazel dress. Morrible smiled the girl always dressed herself well, messily but nicely.

Winter walked out in her new dress. "Any plans or are we just going to improvise."

Morrible smiled, "Do whatever you want I'm going to study."

Winter looked at book being read, "Doesn't look like studying to me."

Morrible looked up and closed the book. "I didn't say it was for school."

Winter laughed, "Why are you so interested in civil wars and Oz's history. Don't you find it to be a bore?"

Morrible sighed, "Of course not. It's possibly the most important thing to know about Oz. For example over the past years the Ozma's reign of power has become troubled with the raise of attacks to remote villages by various minority groups. With such people are growing restless for protection and feeling as though their ruler isn't giving them the protection needed. So for the first time in centuries the Ozma's rule of power has been threatened for the first time in a thousand years.

"At the same time this has resulted in the first army raised by the Ozma in a century. She is trying to protect her people and stop this information becoming public. So the majority of Oz doesn't even know what's happening. The Ozma's afraid for the first time of her rule of power. That there is a revolution that threatens to take her out of power and bring someone else to power.

"This is all happening without any of us knowing. If it became public anarchy would be at foot."

Winter shook her head. "You got all that from books."

Morrible looked away, "I also have very personal reasons involved as well. Something I'd rather not discuss."

Winter smiled softly, "Come with me. This seems to be rather depressing. Shall we go out? It could be fun. You might have fun."

Morrible shook her head. "I'd rather not. I'm reading."

Winter then pulled up a chair next to Morrible. "Alright then let's see what we have here. I suppose everything else can wait for a later date."

7