Hello, all. New story. This was originally supposed to be titled 'Helping Hands' but I decided against it. I am super proud of this story because I actually wrote most of it before I started posting! That's right! Chapters 1 – 18 are completed. This is going to be a little different from how I normally run things. Actually, scratch that! This is very different from how I normally run things. As my grandmother says, "It's always good to try new things." Though, she's normally referring to food and… enough rambling. Enjoy!

"Elphaba, get in here!"

The sound of wheels along the carpet reached Frex's ears and he looked up, seeing his eldest, and green, daughter sitting in the doorway.

"Y-Yes, Father?" Elphaba asked timidly, slowly wheeling into the room.

Frex stood up. "You and Nessa will be attending Shiz University this year."

A smile tugged its way onto Elphaba's lips. She had always wanted to go to Shiz. It had been her dream to study there since she was a child.

"Nanny will accompany you. While you are there, you are not to embarrass me or your sister."

Elphaba's smile slowly faltered. "Yes, Father."

"Her reputation will be at stake with you going there. If I hear one word that you have caused a commotion, you will be sent home. Am I understood?"

I don't cause commotions. I am one. Elphaba looked down. "Yes, Father."

"Good. Now, leave."

Nodding, Elphaba turned and wheeled out of her father's office. Once she closed the door behind her, the smile made her way back onto her face.

"Shiz University," Elphaba smiled to herself, quickly wheeling back to her room. Closing the door behind her, she hurried over to her bed. Grabbing her pillow, she hugged it against her chest as a slight giggle escaped her lips. "Shiz."

"Fabala, what's going on?" Nanny asked, coming into the room.

"We're going to Shiz University, Nanny!" Elphaba smiled, turning around to face the old woman who had taken care of her and her sister since they were young.

Nanny smiled softly. "I know, Fabala. You must be very excited."

"I am!" Elphaba smiled. "I've heard it has one of the biggest libraries in Oz."

"It does," Nanny confirmed.

"Oh, Nanny! I'm so excited!" Elphaba smiled, looking up at the old woman.

Nanny smiled. She had never seen Elphaba this happy. "I know, little frog," she said, kneeling down in front of Elphaba. "Let's get you ready for bed."

Nodding, Elphaba allowed Nanny to push her into the bathroom and help her prepare for bed.

As the day approached for the girls to leave for Shiz, Elphaba became more and more excited, but also more fearful.

"Fabala, stop fidgeting!" Nanny huffed, trying to help the green girl get dressed the morning they were to leave.

"I can't help it, Nanny! We're going to Shiz today!" Elphaba exclaimed, giddy with excitement.

"Well, we're never going to get there if you don't stop squirming."

Elphaba obeyed and tried her best to sit still as Nanny helped to dress her in her uniform; a navy blue sweater and jacket with a matching long skirt. The elderly woman then brushed out Elphaba's hair and braided it.

"Do I have to?" Elphaba asked, seeing Nanny take out her metal leg braces.

"Don't whine, Fabala. It's unbecoming. You know you have to wear these. They keep your legs straight," Nanny said, helping Elphaba with the braces, despite her protests.

The green girl winced at the sudden pain shooting up her body as the braces were tightened, but took a deep breath and relaxed.

"You're all ready," Nanny announced as she laced up Elphaba's brown boots and stepped behind the green girl and pushed her out the door.

Frex was waiting outside, probably for Nessa, Elphaba thought. The Governor didn't even look at Elphaba as Nanny helped her into the carriage.

"It'll be okay, Fabala," Nanny whispered, gently patting Elphaba's hand.

Nessa came out a few minutes later, wearing a navy blue headband in her shoulder length brown hair, and a long sleeved white blouse with a stripped teal vest. Her teal skirt stopped just below her knees and flowed behind her as she stepped into the carriage.

"Hi, Nessie," Elphaba smiled as her sister sat down across from her.

"Fabala." Nessa gave her sister a nod of acknowledgement and averted her gaze out the window.

Elphaba frowned and looked down. She knew her sister was embarrassed of her. Who wouldn't be? She was green. An abomination. A sin. When she was born, Nanny had told her that her legs were tangled together, cursing her with the inability to walk. She had had five surgeries on her legs before she was six years old, trying to fix the problems in her legs, but all the attempts were fruitless, leaving Elphaba with awful scars running up her legs. When her mother, Melena, was pregnant with Nessa, her father had forced her to drink a special potion so the new baby wouldn't end up like Elphaba. The potion worked. Nessarose Iva Thropp was born perfectly normal, but Melena had died in childbirth, having lost so much blood. Ever since then, Frex had done his best to ignore Elphaba, only speaking to her when he was yelling at her. Once Nessarose had learned that it wasn't normal for people to be born with green skin, she was embarrassed to say that she was related to Elphaba.

Frex climbed in and nodded to the driver. A flick of the reigns and the carriage speed down the road.

The ride was long and quiet. Elphaba pulled out a book and began to read. Nessa stared listlessly out the window. Frex pulled out the morning paper and glanced through it, occasionally sending hateful glances at his eldest daughter. Nanny slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep. After a long six-hour trip, the driver finally announced their arrival at Shiz University.

"Nanny, wake up! We're here," Elphaba said, gently shaking the older woman's arm.

Frex climbed out first and helped Nessa down as Nanny slowly began to wake up. The driver handed Nessa her luggage and they walked away, leaving Nanny and Elphaba alone.

"Fabala?" Nanny asked, noticing the sad look on Elphaba's face as she helped her into her wheelchair.

"Nessie doesn't want me here," Elphaba said. "Though, I don't know what I was expecting. She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Fabala," Nanny said, retrieving the luggage.

"What would you prefer, then? Strongly dislikes?"

"'Loves' would be nice."

Sighing, Elphaba pushed her glasses up her nose. "She doesn't love me, but whatever you prefer, Nanny."

Grabbing the final suitcase, Nanny pushed Elphaba to where all the other students were gathering. Frex and Nessa were talking to an older woman in a red dress and way too much makeup.

As soon as they arrived, Elphaba felt the other students' eyes on her and, though she was used to it, didn't mean she liked it.

"What? What are you all staring at? Oh, do I have something in my teeth?" she asked sarcastically, wheeling over to them before Nanny could stop her. "Fine! We may as well get this over with. No, I am not seasick! Yes, I've always been green! No, I didn't eat grass as a child!"

"Elphaba!" Frex hissed, marching over to his eldest daughter.

Elphaba caught herself before she could say anything else. She felt her father grab onto the back of her chair and pull her away. "Stop making a spectacle of yourself," he hissed. "I told you not to embarrass your sister."

"I'm sorry," Elphaba whispered, ashamed.

Frex turned towards Nessa and his scowl instantly faded. "My precious Nessa, a parting gift."

"Father," Nessa giggled, blushing as her father handed her a rectangular box. Opening it, she pulled out the most splendid pair of shoes she had ever laid eyes on. "Ooh! Jeweled shoes!"

"As befits the future Governor of Munchkinland," Frex smiled, hugging Nessa.

"I'll miss you, Father."

"I'll miss you, too, Nessa." He gave a quick nod to Nanny and walked off without saying goodbye to Elphaba.

Nanny looked down and saw the hurt expression on the green girl's face. "Fabala," she whispered, kneeling down beside her.

"I… I'm fine," Elphaba lied, giving Nanny a small smile. "What could he have gotten me? I clash with everything."

"Welcome! Welcome, new students! I am Madame Morrible, head Shiztress here at Shiz University!" the older woman from before said, walking up to the group of students that had gathered. "I have your room assignments."

"Madame Morrible!" a petite blonde girl called out, waving her hand. "I have already been assigned a private suite."

A few of the girls around her whined. "But… you can all come and visit me whenever you want," the blonde added.

"How good of you!" one girl smiled.

"You are so good," another girl gushed.

"Oh, stop it!" the blonde girl gushed, giggling.

"Ah, yes. You must be Miss Glinda Arduenna Upland," Madame Morrible smiled, approaching the blonde.

"Oh, it's Galinda, with a 'guh'," Galinda corrected. "Of the Upper Uplands."

"Ah, yes. Of course," Madame Morrible said, handing Galinda a golden key. "You will be in our private dorms in Ozma Hall, Room Three."

Galinda smiled and nodded back at the head before marching over towards Ozma Hall, with her poor driver trying to push her tower of suitcases behind her.

Morrible turned back to her list and began calling out names. "Miss Nessarose Thropp and Miss Lyssa Sylorn."

A girl with dark skin and braided black hair stepped forward, carrying a small, brown suitcase. She looked at Nessa and smiled, clearly taking a liking to her.

"Crage Hall, Room Two." Morrible smiled, giving the girls their room keys.

The two girls were given their keys and went off to their dorm room. Once everyone had been called, Nanny came forward with Elphaba.

"Madame Morrible?" Nanny said, tapping the head on the shoulder.

"Yes? And who is… AH!" the head gasped, noticing Elphaba.

"I'm Elphaba Thropp, the Governor of Munchkinland's other daughter," Elphaba quipped, giving the head a slight smile.

"Oh… well, he never mentioned you," Morrible said, not seeing Elphaba's name on her list. "Oh. Just a slight gulch. But don't fret, dear. We will find some place to put you."

"Figures Father wouldn't mention me," Elphaba whispered sadly, a touch of bitterness in her voice.

"Don't worry, Miss Elphaba. We shall find a roommate for you," Morrible said.

"Oh no. You misunderstood. Fabala doesn't go anywhere with me," Nanny spoke up.

"Nanny…" Elphaba whispered, looking up at the older woman.

"Oh. And you are…" Morrible trailed off.

"Her nanny. Cattery Spunge," Nanny introduced herself with a small nod. "So, a wheelchair accessible room for both of us, please."

Morrible nodded slowly as she tried to process what was happening. The Governor had another daughter? And she's green? Shaking it off, she took out two keys and handed them to Nanny. "Crage Hall. Room 101."

"Thank you," Nanny said, grabbing their suitcases and pushing Elphaba's chair towards the dorms.

"It's a decent size," the old woman said once they entered the room.

Elphaba looked around. There were two beds in the opposite corners. A large dresser was in the middle of the beds, against the wall, with a large window over it, overlooking the grounds. Two desks were placed at the foot of each bed and a large closet was in the far corner.

"It's perfect," Elphaba smiled, wheeling inside.

"It will be once we unpack," Nanny said as she began to open up the first of the suitcases.

It took Elphaba and Nanny all evening to unpack and by the time they were finished, both of them were exhausted.

"Are you hungry, Fabala?" Nanny asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"No. Just tired," Elphaba yawned.

"Alright. Let's get you ready for bed," Nanny smiled, quickly pushing herself up.

"Nanny, I'm eighteen years old," Elphaba said, grabbing her nightgown. "I can get ready for bed by myself."

"Of course, Fabala," Nanny said, not listening as she pushed Elphaba into the bathroom.

"Nanny, stop! I'm in college now! I can wash myself," Elphaba protested as Nanny tried to unbutton her jacket.

"Fabala, please. There's nothing you have that old Nanny hasn't seen before."

"Nanny!" Elphaba hissed, blushing, her face turning a darker shade of green.

"None of that!" Nanny said, pulling Elphaba's blouse over her head and helping her into the bath chair.

"Nanny, leave!" the green girl shouted, pushing Nanny's arm away.

"Hold still," Nanny said, running her fingers through Elphaba's soapy hair.

"Now, Nanny!"

"I've been with your mother's family for three generations. Trust me, I've seen it all."

Elphaba's blood rushed to her face as she tried to push Nanny away from her, though her efforts were fruitless.

Nanny finally finished after twenty minutes of fighting with Elphaba and helped her dry off and dressed her in her nightgown. Exhausted, she pushed Elphaba out of the bathroom and helped her into bed.

"Goodnight, Nanny," Elphaba yawned, closing her eyes.

Nanny chuckled and lightly kissed Elphaba's cheek. "Goodnight, Fabala."

Now, there will be a character death in here, but that's not until later. I know I already wrote one (okay… two) stories like this, but this story is very different and I like the difference.