Elphaba'sGirl: How is this my fault?

Thedoctor24601 (Guest): Nope, Nelliee's been here. I'll give Galinda your letter.

PhantomoftheBarricade1832: I'll give them a hug for you. And thank you!

Elphabalover101: You don't trust Nelliee? Why not?

"Yero, really, I can do it myself."

"Fae, it's only been two weeks."

"I refuse to stay in bed any longer."

"The doctor said you had to –"

"I know what the doctor said! And I'm telling you that –"

"Okay. You want to get out of bed early? Fine!"

Elphaba looked taken back. "That's it?"

"Fae, we've been going back and forth about this for the past half hour."

"Oh."

Fiyero sighed as he wrapped one arm around Elphaba's waist and helped her to her feet.

"Thank you," Elphaba smiled, slowly sliding her right foot in front of her left.

"Careful, Fae."

"Yero –"

"I know, I know. You can do it yourself."

"I… I'm sorry," Elphaba muttered.

"It's okay."

Fiyero helped Elphaba walk around the room for a while. He was surprised to see his usually stubborn girlfriend loosen up and allow him to assist her. He suspected it was because she didn't want a repeat of what happened between her and Galinda. Not that he would leave her, of course. She did know that, didn't she?

"I think that's enough for today," Fiyero said gently, slowly guiding Elphaba back to her bed. He helped her lay down and pulled the covers up to her chin.

Elphaba leaned back against the pillows and soon found her eyelids growing heavier. She closed her eyes, allowing sleep to come and cover her.

"Fresh dreams, Fae," Fiyero whispered, gently kissing her cheek.

The next seven days past slowly for Elphaba and Fiyero. Elphaba's strength was returning more slowly than she would have liked, causing her to get very frustrated at times. Fiyero continued to help her walk around her room, occasionally letting her walk from one side of the room to the other by herself.

"We can go outside if you want," Fiyero smiled, helping Elphaba to her feet.

After three weeks of being confined to the dorm room, Elphaba wanted nothing more than to get some fresh air.

"I would love to," she said, gently wiggling out of Fiyero's arms and feeling her way over to her dresser. She opened the top drawer and grabbed a cotton sweater. Putting it on, she turned around and walked towards her desk. Her fingers scanned the desktop, searching for her cane. Grabbing it, she unfolded it and reached for Fiyero's arm.

"Ready?" she asked, gripping Fiyero's arm right above his elbow.

"Ready," Fiyero smiled, leading Elphaba out of the room.

Elphaba let out a content moan as soon as she felt the sunlight shine across her skin. Sighing peacefully, she closed her eyes, concentrating on the sound her cane made as it slid across the pavement.

"How's you hip feeling?" Fiyero asked after a while.

"Fine," Elphaba said, looking up towards Fiyero. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything you've done for me. How you've helped me, even when I tried to push you away."

"That's what boyfriends do. And you just so happen to have the best boyfriend in all of Oz."

Elphaba rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I am lucky to have you, Yero."

"I'm luckier," Fiyero whispered into her ear, causing the green girl to blush and giggle.

Elphaba smiled, but her smile faded after a while.

"Fae?" Fiyero asked. "What is it?"

"I… I still haven't heard anything from Galinda."

"Fae…"

"She probably still hates me, and I don't blame her after what I said… and did."

"Fae, don't worry about that. Galinda's your best friend. She'll come around."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will. You two will make up. Trust me."

"I hope so."

Fiyero gave Elphaba a small grin and led her through the commons area.

"Yero?" Elphaba frowned, hearing the sound of rushing water.

"I know you like to come here to clear your head, and I know you have a lot on your mind right now," Fiyero said, guiding Elphaba up the small bridge over Suicide Canal.

"You're so thoughtful," Elphaba smiled, closing her eyes as she pressed her hands against the banister, feeling the wind whip through her hair.

Fiyero wrapped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her closer to him. "Don't you have to take Morrible's exam soon?"

Elphaba nodded. "Tomorrow."

"Are you sure you're up for it?"

"The sooner I get it over with, the better."

"Then we should probably get back. You'll need all your strength tomorrow."

Deciding not to argue, Elphaba simply nodded and allowed Fiyero to lead her back to the room.

Elphaba slowly made her way to room A201, her cane making a 'zzz' sound as it slid across the carpeted hallway. "Madame Morrible?" she whispered timidly, knocking on the door and pushing it open.

"Ah, Miss Elphaba. So glad to see that you're feeling better," Madame Morrible smiled, somewhere from Elphaba's right.

Elphaba turned towards her and gave her a small smile. "I am feeling better."

"Have you come to take the exam?"

Why else would I be here? It took Elphaba all the strength in her body to keep herself from saying that. Now was not the time, nor the place. "Yes."

"Excellent," Morrible smiled, clapping her hands as she went to retrieve something. Probably the broom, Elphaba thought. She took a deep breath as Morrible took her arm and led her outside to the commons area. She could do this. She wasn't going to fall off again.

Just let the wind guide you.

Elphaba gulped down the lump that was forming in her throat. She felt Morrible press the broom into her hand.

"You'll only have to fly on it for at least three minutes," Morrible explained.

"Is that how long Galinda had to fly?" Elphaba questioned, wanting to make sure Morrible wasn't making the exam easier for her.

"Yes, Miss Elphaba."

Nodding, Elphaba handed Morrible her cane and mounted the broom and chanted the levitation spell. She felt her feet leave the grass and she closed her eyes.

Fabala.

Startled, Elphaba forced her eyes open. Who was calling her?

Fabala.

It wasn't Nessa. And the only other person who called her 'Fabala' other than her sister and her father was…

Fabala.

Her mother. But that was impossible. Her mother had been dead for eighteen years.

Fabala.

She slowly found herself relaxing, the voice bringing her a strange comfort. She found it easier to fly on the broom.

Just let the wind guide you.

Fiyero's words filled her mind. Taking his advice, she allowed the wind to guide her.

Morrible stood on the ground, her mouth hanging wide open as she watched the blind girl defying gravity. How could she fly like that? No one else was around to help her.

After three minutes, Elphaba came back down. "Madame Morrible?"

"V-Very good, M-Miss Elphaba," Morrible finally managed to stutter, approaching the green girl.

"Is something wrong, Madame?" Elphaba asked as the headmistress handed her her cane.

"No, dearie. Everything's fine. You did well."

"Oh. Thank you, Madame," Elphaba said, nodding to the headmistress before turning to leave.

Fabala.

A light smile crossed the green girl's face as she heard her name being whispered in the wind one final time. "Thank you, Mama," she whispered.

Elphaba smiled as she wandered back towards the dorms. She sensed someone approaching her and stiffened. As she quickened her pace, she realized that her follower was doing the same. She wanted to run, but she couldn't. She didn't know what was in front of her and running could make the situation worse.

The person who was chasing after Elphaba grabbed her arm and pulled her down a dark alley between the Science and Arts buildings.

"Let me go!" Elphaba shouted, trying to twist away from the person. She felt herself being pushed against the brick wall of the building and all the air immediately left her lungs.

"What is wrong with you, Artichoke?!" the person shouted.

Elphaba froze. That voice sounded familiar. It was one of Galinda's friends. Pfannee, wasn't it?

"How dare you hurt Galinda!" another person shouted.

So there were two of them. It sounded like ShenShen.

"What did you do to her?" Pfannee shouted, standing directly in front of Elphaba.

Elphaba bit her lip in defiance, refusing to answer. She continued to struggle to get away, but her efforts were fruitless.

"She's been distant and modified, and it's really worrying us. So, we're going to ask you one more time, what. Did. You. Do. To. Galinda?" ShenShen whispered darkly.

"That's none of your business," Elphaba hissed.

Pfannee reached back and slapped Elphaba across her face, her fingernails scratching the green girl's cheek.

Elphaba screamed as she collapsed to the ground. She dropped her cane and heard it roll about ten feet away.

"And to think, Galinda took pity on you, the poor, green, ugly blind girl and this is how you repay her?" Pfannee sneered.

"Again, that's none of your business. Now leave me alone!" Elphaba hissed, trying to keep the fear out of her voice as she pushed herself to her knees.

"You are in no position to tell us what to do, Artichoke," ShenShen said.

"You think I'm scared of you?" Elphaba whispered, pushing herself to her full height and turning around to face the two girls.

"You should be," Pfannee said, her face dangerously close to Elphaba's.

"Well, I'm not," Elphaba said. She quickly gathered as much saliva as she could and spat in Pfannee's face.

Gasping in disgust, Pfannee reached back and slapped Elphaba again, her fingernails cutting into Elphaba's cheek.

Elphaba stumbled back and caught herself using the wall. She felt something sliding down her cheek and knew it was her own blood.

"You have no right to speak to us in that manner!" ShenShen bellowed, stepping up closer to Elphaba.

"Oh, really? The last time I checked, I'm the Governor of Munchkinland's eldest daughter, next in line for Eminent Thropp and the Governorship of Munchkinland," Elphaba challenged, a small smirk on her face. "That gives me a higher social status than both of you combined."

"Why you…" ShenShen sneered, kicking Elphaba in the ankle.

Caught off guard, Elphaba crumbled to the ground. Tears sprang into her eyes and slid down her cheek before she was able to stop them. She heard Pfannee and ShenShen walk away, obviously tired of tormenting her at the moment. Slowly, Elphaba reached out her hand and groped for her cane. Feeling only the cold, hard pavement, she slowly crawled in the direction she heard it roll, her fingers stretched out as she desperately felt around the cold ground. She finally located it and gripped the handle tightly, too weak to stand up.

"I'm so sorry, Galinda," Elphaba sobbed, curling up against the wall and allowing her tears to come at their own free will.