AN: Well, I have a day off, which is wonderful for me and good for you since that means you get an update! (Yes, I am writing this as I go…hence the updates when I have a day off). Oh and the sun is shining today for the first time in like 2 weeks, which makes my mood all the better to write this. As such, this update is going to be a little longer. A huge shout out to ExoticPeachBlossom for the plug in their own stories. It was unexpected and made my day Seriously people. Go check out those stories. Anyhow, on with the story.

Fiyero wandered around the city, pondering the activities of the morning. Never in all his life had he seen someone so unusually colored, despite being different himself, coming from the Vinkus. Despite her coloring though, he found her attractive and wondered at it. He could not help but admire the young woman's fire as she yelled at him after their unfortunate collision. He smiled, remembering. His smile faded a tick-tock later as he remembered the look of terror on the girl's face after being apprehended by the guards and taken back to the orphanage. He felt terrible about his role in all of it, unintentional though it was. He could not fathom how bad the roof over her head had to be to driver her away from it into the cold winter, with no protection from the killing cold.

"Prince Fiyero!" Prince Fiyero!" Fiyero's thoughts were interrupted when Boq, the servant his father had insisted come along as a companion to Fiyero called to him.

"I'm right here Boq. What's the matter?"

Boq ran up panting. "You are supposed to meet your father in a half-hour so you guys can meet with the Wizard. If you don't leave now, you are going to be late!"

"Crap! I'm sorry Boq, for making you run all over the city trying to find me. Time got away from me.

Later at the palace, Fiyero and his father were meeting with the Wizard and his personal assistant. Fiyero found the Wizard to not be as intimidating as he thought he would be. Sure, Fiyero was a prince, and therefore used to meeting diplomats and heads of state, but this was the Great and Powerful Oz! Who wouldn't be intimidated but the Wizard did everything he could to make Fiyero and his father feel comfortable.

"Well my dear boy, How do you find our fair city?" asked the Wizard in his jovial manner.

"It's amazing! Although I had an…interesting meeting this morning."

"Oh? And just what made this meeting so strange?"

"I accidentally ran into someone, or rather she ran into me, I guess you could say. She was running from the soldiers for being a thief, but it looked like she was homeless and just trying to grab some food. She was unusual to say the least."

"How so? Were you hurt?"

"No, no I wasn't hurt at all. And this person, or rather young woman I would say, she was, well, green."

"Prince Fiyero, forgive me if I seem rude, but this is the Emerald City. Everyone here wears green."

"No, not her clothing. Her skin was green. It was so weird. I grabbed her to help her up after the collision and she started yelling at me, then the guards got her attention and she tried to get away from me. The guards caught up to her and one of them recognized her as an orphan from the local orphanage. They took her back there, but she was begging not to be taken back there. She even begged to be thrown in Southstairs than to be taken back there. I don't understand how living in the streets would be better than an orphanage; it's a roof over her head."

The Wizard sighed and looked at Melena meaningfully. She caught the look and an idea formed in her mind. She would investigate this orphanage and at the same time look for an orphan to come spend the holidays at the palace. After Fiyero and his father had left, she had run the idea by the Wizard, and he agreed.

"if going back to that place instills such fear, there has to be a reason. I want you to find out why and bring this orphan back to the palace for Lurlinemas."

Melena gave a nod of assent and called for a carriage to be readied for her trip into the city.

Back in the depths of the Emerald City, the guards held onto a wriggling black and green teenager as she fought to get away and not go back to the orphanage, and more specifically, Frexspar Thropp. Once they reached the building, she stopped struggling and just hung her head, her hair hiding her face and the fear in her eyes. One of the soldiers holding her reached up and knocked on the door.

Milla opened the door and faced the soldiers and the green girl between them. She hid a little smile of glee at the sight, for she hated the green girl.

"Miss, is Mr. Thropp around?"

"Of course. It's not like he ever goes anywhere. I can go get him."

"That would be wonderful."

She disappeared and a few moments later, Frexspar Thropp stood at the door.

"What can I do for you gentlemen?"

"We apprehended this girl for stealing some food and recognized her as one of yours. We caught her and brought her back to you to punish as you see fit as you are in charge of any children brought to this orphanage."

Frex looked at the green girl standing before him. She had found her pride and instead of cowering in front of him like a sniveling weakling, she stood straight and proud, and her eyes carefully blank.

"yes, Thank you gentleman. I will punish her as I see fit. The Unnamed God frowns upon thieves. I assure you she will be punished for her crime."

At these words, Elphaba's stomach sank as she was roughly pushed into the doorway, where Frex grabbed her arm to prevent her from brushing by him as the door closed behind her.

"Don't think you are getting away from me that easily you little freak."

He took her arm and dragged Elphaba to his office, with her shaking in fear of what was to come. She knew there was no one to help her now.