It was a hot summer's day in Munchkinland. The farmers were busy checking on their plantations before harvest season, while the crickets buzzed among the tall grass, creating a lazy, if not consistent, accompaniment to the weather. Inside the large residence of the Governor of Munchkinland, though, things were much more quieter. Not gloomy, no – The homely smell of cooking and the occasional burst of laughter from the two sisters have kept it from becoming that.
Elphaba balanced a large basket of clean laundry as she navigated the winding steps. As Frexspar had refused to hire any more servants besides Nanny when they'd moved here, Elphaba had been delegated many household duties, coupled with being Nessa's primary caretaker. Not that she minded, of course; Nanny's a dear old thing, but she's getting old, and Elphaba was determined to keep her here as long as humanely possible.
" … Secured a place for you at Shiz University. You'll just have to take a test though – Not much, and it won't take long. It's mainly to see whether you're up to the curriculum …"
Elphaba paused as her Father's voice filtered out from his office. Quickly, she retracted her steps and stood quietly outside the slightly ajar door, straining her ears.
"Thank you, Father." Nessa's soft voice answered. "I'll do my best."
"That I have no doubt of, my dear." Father replied warmly. "Now …"
"But, Father, what about Elphaba?" Nessa interjected.
"Elphaba?" Father said in surprise. "What about her?"
"Isn't … Isn't she coming, too?" Nessa asked.
Elphaba sucked in a quick breath. In the small slit of the doorway, she could see her Father's brow furrow into a frown.
"Nessarose, you know Madame Morrible is a very busy woman. It took weeks for her Deputy to write a reply back to me, and another month before we settled arranging a test just for you. Are you suggesting I go through that again just for Elphaba?"
Elphaba swallowed and was about to turn away silently in defeat when Nessa's voice caught her attention.
"I really am grateful, Father." Nessa smiled, laying a hand on her father's knee. "I'm just saying that Elphaba could apply for herself. She hasn't been homeschooled like me, and she has gotten straight As in every examination she's ever taken, you know that …"
"No, I don't." Frexspar replied irritably. "I've only known how many damn letters I received because of her blasted temper and those incidents that've always happened because of that."
Nessa bit her lip. "Yes, well, aside from that … Father, I ... You do realize I'll need someone to take care of me. Nanny's becoming too old for that, and Elphaba can't possibly manage the house if Nanny goes. On the other hand, if Elphaba comes, she can both study and keep an eye on me if anything happens. You know she's already past the age where people normally go to University. Oh, please, Father? She knows me best."
Frexspar sighed. "Alright, then. But she'll have to fill out the application form and everything else. I'm not arranging another test for her. However," he growled. "She'll come straight home if any … Funny things … Occur. And, Nessa, don't even think about pleading her case then."
"I understand, Father. Thank you." Nessa replied quickly.
Frexspar stood up and ruffled Nessa's neat brown hair. "I'll see you soon, my dear. Tell Nanny not to make dinner for me; I'll be in a meeting."
Realizing that Father wouldn't appreciate her eavesdropping, Elphaba hurriedly backed into a nearby room – the bathroom – as he exited Nessa's room and strode down the hallway. She released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, and entered Nessa's room with a soft knock.
Nessa looked up and smiled. "I knew you were outside. What did you hear?"
"Everything." Elphaba's voice caught on the last syllable and she put the basket down before kneeling beside her sister. "Oh, Nessa, thank you."
"I just thought it wasn't fair that you weren't going." Nessa squeezed Elphaba's hand. "Oz knows you've got ten times the amount of brains I have." She grinned. "Besides, Nanny would've chewed Father's ear off if she heard that he wasn't planning to send you."
"Make that two of them," Elphaba replied wryly.
"Darn right I would have!" Nanny said indignantly as she hobbled into the room. Both sisters smiled at Nanny and Elphaba stood up.
"Oh, my poppets," Nanny said fondly as she looked at them both. "How I wish your mother was here to see you two now." She hugged Elphaba and whispered, "Make me proud." She then patted Nessa's head and added, "Who knows, maybe you might even meet the Wizard!" Suddenly, she noticed the clock. "Goodness me," she muttered. "Is that the time? I must prepare dinner …"
"Father won't be here," Nessa said. "He's got a meeting."
"Ah, my favourite kind of days." Nanny called back as she left the room.
The two sisters shared a knowing look and chuckled.
"Actually, I've never figured out why she hates Father that much," Elphaba remarked.
Nessa, however, looked serious. "Elphaba, please, promise me things will be different at Shiz. You heard Father. I can't help you a second time if you lose control there."
Elphaba exhaled and rubbed her eyes. "Nessa, you know there's no "control" to talk about. It ... It just takes over me sometimes, especially when people get under my skin."
"But –"
"But I'll try." Elphaba interrupted. "I promise, I'll try."
"'Magic Wands: Need They Have A Point?'" Malinda read out incredulously. "Galinda, are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do, Mol." Galinda said evenly, trying to hide her irritation. "Just because you got accepted into Gilikin's top University doesn't mean you get to edit everyone's entrance essay."
"But a sorcery class? 'Lindy, you know you've never shown any signs of magic!"
"Don't call me that! And, it's never too late to try." Galinda replied airily as she stretched. "Aren't you supposed to be helping Sal with her packing?"
Malinda rolled her eyes. "Mommy took over me a long time ago."
"You know, I don't quite understand why Momsie and Popsie would be so happy for Salinda to get married straight after college," Galinda said thoughtfully as Malinda pulled out a chair and sat on it.
Malinda shrugged. "Why not? He's rich, he has a title, and he – "
"And 'he' is my future husband, Mol." Salinda said as she entered the room. "Not to mention your future brother-in-law. Some respect, please?"
"Oh, Sal, you know you should never pay any attention to what I say," Malinda replied carelessly. Then, she said sincerely, "Darlingest, you know we are happy for you, truly."
Salinda smiled and opened her arms to hug her sisters. "I'm going to miss both of you so much," she choked.
"Now, don't cry, Sal." Galinda admonished. "It's terribly bad luck."
"And I expect tons of letters from you when I'm in University," Malinda added. "Plus a niece or a nephew in a few months' time."
"Malinda!" Sally blushed. "Those things don't happen that fast."
"Well then, make them happen."
"Knowing our genes, she'd probably pop out three in one go," Galinda said in a stage whisper.
"Galinda!"
"Alright, you three." Lady Uplands said from the doorway, smiling at the sight of her triplets all grown up. "Give her some space. Mal, I need your help with the garden decorators. Heavens, I don't think anyone we hired has any sense of decency …"
As Malinda left with their mother, Galinda seized the chance to talk alone with her elder (by half a minute) sister. "You'll write to me, won't you?"
Salinda sat down in the same chair their sister had just vacated. "Of course I will. Are you scared of Shiz University?"
"Me, scared?" Galinda laughed. "I'm not a child anymore, Sal, even if I'm the youngest of all of us."
"That's the spirit." Salinda nodded with a relieved air. "Think of it. You'll be at a whole new place none of us – except Daddy and Mommy, of course – have been to. Wouldn't it be exciting?"
"I suppose it would." Galinda acknowledged. "But I do so want to get into that sorcery seminar."
Salinda waved a hand in the air nonchalantly. "Don't you worry about that essay; I'm sure you'll do fine with your other subjects even if you didn't enter that seminar."
"But I want to!" Galinda said fiercely. "Sal, you know I hate it when Mol lords her school results over mine."
"Don't forget, you're much better at things like shopping and fashion," Salinda pointed out, gesturing at Galinda's trendy hairdo and outfit.
"That's true." Galinda conceded. "But …"
Salinda sighed. "Oh, Galinda, I know you don't understand why I'm fine with getting married so early. I, for one, never understood your competition over school results. I just did what I had to, and when I met Josef, both of us knew we were going to be married one day. No school really teaches one how to govern, so there was no real need for me to continue after college."
She stood and grasped Galinda's shoulders affectionately. "Come on, 'Linda. It's my wedding tomorrow. Forget your little seminar and be happy. For me?"
Galinda nodded and smiled. "Of course." She rolled her eyes slightly. "Anyone who looks at you and Josef tomorrow would either be deliriouselly joyful or they'd just puke from all the lovey-doveyness."
Salinda giggled. "I prefer the former … And don't forget, tomorrow you'll get to wear a big poofy dress too!" she called as she left the room.
Galinda laughed and turned back to her essay. "Magic wands …" She wondered aloud. "Do they really need a point?"
A/N: Ah, the action's getting closer and closer! For those who are a little confused - Both Fiyero (he's a January baby) and Elphaba are the same age, while Galinda and Nessarose are around 4 years younger. Thus, they're currently 22-23 years old and 19 years old respectively. Yes, that might seem a little odd, but it was how the math worked out to be (I calculated their possible ages and everything, haha). Besides, due to Fiyero's "dancing through life" and Frexspar refusing to send Elphaba to University because of 1. Her green skin 2. Her "incidents", they'll all be in the same year together.
A big thank you to ALL who reviewed! I'm so thrillified at the response to the "triplets" idea, and also how Fiyero was portrayed (favourite character to write so far). xMegxGiry and ComingAndGoingByBubble, I'm forever indebted to your lovely responses.
Please R&R! I'M BRIBING Y'ALL WITH GINGERBREAD AND HOT ROASTED TURKEY.