Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom, there stood a tall palace at the edge of the woods. There was a village nearby, filled with people, mainly those stricken with poverty. The royals did not pay much attention to the poor, though when they did meet the royals did not have rude actions towards the less fortunate.

The King, a very handsome but stupid man, whose father recently passed, had a daughter, though not with a queen, as many would have guessed. His daughter was the daughter of a poor maid, who he had once fallen in love with and indeed married, but the two had split soon after the King had eyes for another woman. His daughter, Galinda, had been raised far from the poverty that her mother lived in. But he loved Galinda dearly, and he soon married another woman after Galinda's mother and him divorced.

Galinda was raised in a perfect environment. She could get whatever food she asked for the moment she asked, she could get whatever toys she wanted before you could say, "Dear Lurline!"

Despite being spoiled, Galinda was a polite and good girl, which surprised many people.

"Daddy, why isn't that woman happy?" Galinda said, waving to the crowd from the open carriage. The King spotted his former lover almost immediately, and shielded Galinda's eyes from her, not willing to let Galinda make eye contact.

"There is no important reason, Galinda!" and he uncovered her eyes, letting her turn to him and smile. "Peek-a-boo!" Galinda giggled.

"Popsicle, I'm far too old for that! I'm four!" Galinda held up three fingers, which caused the King to chuckle and take her hand, raising one more finger. He took his hand and put up four fingers.

"See? This is four," he removed a finger, "this is three!" Galinda giggled.

"You're silly, Popsicle!"

The King nervously looked back at the maid in the crowd, before turning back and praying that she wouldn't come claim Galinda as her own. The Kingdom had to believe Queen Larena was Galinda's mother- if they discovered who her mother really was the King's reputation would be destroyed forever.

Elphaba was Lord Frexspar's daughter, yet unlike Galinda she grew up in a rich environment and was treated poorly. Her skin was as green as grass, her hair a silky, jet black, and eyes of the deepest brown. Her father blamed her for her mother's death, as well as her sister's disfigurement- she was born with tangled legs. Elphaba was whipped and beaten in such harsh ways, forcing her to obey Frexspar. She had to care for her baby sister, and if she didn't a terrible punishment would wait for her.

Elphaba woke up on her fifth birthday, but not to Nessa or her father wishing her a happy birthday. Instead, she woke up to screams. Small Elphaba did not want to know where they were coming from. So she covered her ears with her pillow and prayed it'd be over soon.

Once it was quiet, Elphaba decided it was safe to go out. Probably another beating, in the middle of the village. If it weren't her birthday her father would've likely made Elphaba watch, to show her what would happen if she disobeyed his and the town rules.

Elphaba wasn't exactly correct. It was a boy named Jack, being whipped for pickpocketing someone, but it wasn't too violent. Elphaba gazed out through the windows, feeling terrible for the older boy.

Even at five, young Elphaba had to go through terrible times, while Princess Galinda had a Heavenly life.

No one would ever think that someday their paths would cross…

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