DISCLAIMER: in the fisrt chapter...

A/N: thank you to my two reviewers, even if they were supposed to be doing something else ;P Brownies to you!!

MORRIBLE'S LETTER

Your Supreme Ozness,

The girl I had written you about, Elphaba Thropp, seems to have changed completely. One day, as it would appear, she woke up and decided that she no longer desired to learn magic or aspired to meet you, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She has proven to be obstinate in her decision and all attempts to convince her to revise it, have been met with failure.

I shall, of course, continue in my efforts to change her mind. However, due to her reluctance, we are forced to postpone our plans. It is for this reason that I write to you at this moment.

I look forward to hearing your wise reply,

Madame Morrible

The plump woman signed her name off with a flourish. Sealing the envelope, she marked it for the Wizard's eyes only and allowed herself a long sigh. This unexpected delay in her own plans would prove to be successful in trying her patience.

Morrible dragged her long skirts behind her, positioning herself near the window of her personal study. Bellow her, students hurried between classes or lounged around carelessly, all of them oblivious to the ever changing play of politics in Oz. Most of them would go on with their unimportant lives and never question what they were told to be true.

Elphaba…

The green girl, on the other hand, asked too many questions. Dr. Dillamond had made that fact clear. It was inevitable, then, that the Head of Shiz should consider this, when wondering about that particular student's sudden turn in academic life.

Did you figure something out, my dear?

What reasons did you really have to change your mind so?

Madame Morrible stepped away from the tall glass pane and grabbed the sealed envelope, intending to send it as soon as possible. Afterwards, she would have a little chat with Miss Elphaba's Art professor.

--

Emma Glenke, senior Art professor at Shiz University, finished her morning class promptly. As was her habit after every class, Emma paced slowly among her student's work stations, conversing with those who lingered, with questions or in need of extra assistance. The room didn't take long to empty, though and the blond woman proceeded to her own desk, straightening out her possessions and anticipating her leave.

A shadow suddenly fell upon the doorway.

"Madame Glenke. Might I borrow a moment of your time?" The question, as Emma could readily guess, was far from being a request. A nod of consent was all the encouragement Morrible needed. She stepped into the room completely and shut the door firmly behind her.

"I would like to discuss one of your more recent students. She's only been in your class a couple of weeks now… Elphaba Thropp?" Though deeply curious, Emma didn't let it show on her face. She didn't volunteer any information either, being well aware of the way the headmistress tended to fish for it by being overly vague. If she wanted to know something, she would have to ask.

A long pause followed.

"How is she doing in your class?"

"Well, she didn't have any previous training. What she lacks in ability, though, she compensates in effort. Elphaba is determined to learn how to draw." Morrible offered a nod that could end up meaning anything.

"I couldn't help but notice that her main work involves a pair of eyes. She keeps drawing it over and over again." In that, the malicious woman was far from sure. It was just a theory based on her last encounter with the girl.

"Yes."

Slightly infuriated at the professor's short and uninformative answers, Morrible took a moment to recompose herself.

"You wouldn't know who it is she's trying to draw, would you, Madame Glenke?" Eyes narrowed, the Head didn't allow a single reaction to slip.

Emma hesitated.

"Not really." Her short reply was not enough to appease the other woman, though. Emma sighed. "I heard her mention the name Liir and that she needed to draw him before she forgot his face. It seemed important to her."

Emma wouldn't volunteer any more and Morrible knew not to press too much the issue, lest the teacher started suspecting her motivations. With another non-committal nod, the plump woman left.

--

Liir…

Back within the sanctuary of her private study, Madame Morrible sat upon her plush green chair and stared at the drawing she had retrieved from Elphaba's room a couple of days before. The eyes, deep and inquisitive, held a real likeness to it and she wondered what it was about them that Elphaba had considered unsatisfactory.

Who are you, Liir?

She couldn't help but notice, also, that the eyes had a child-like quality to them.

Are you the reason, Liir?

Elphaba's behavior indicated the boy's importance in her decision and Morrible would find a way to use that particular information in her own favor. A child could prove infinitively valuable as far as manipulation went. The plump woman smiled a small, lopsided and malicious smile.

You don't know who you are dealing with, Elphaba, my dear…

Or so, Morrible believed.

Review! Review!