Quirk

This is the story that explains what Elphaba meant when she said (well sang) This weird quirk I've tried to supress or hide. . . It's a prequel to the musical that details some of Elphaba's childhood.

Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked, though it pains me so. No copyright infringements are intended, and I'm not just saying that as a pre-emptive strike against litigation. No wait, yes actually I am. 8)

Enjoy!

Witchy Woman

Raven hair, ruby lips

Sparks fly from her fingertips

She was only one, well, nearly two. Not that anyone particularly cared, children like her were only noticed for their odd outward appearance.

She was odder than most. She wasn't sick, like a few of the squirts around Nest Hardings. And she hadn't been hurt in an accident and left maimed, like little Pyke Hedsryn who lived off Dreary Lane. No this little girl was simply. . . well . . . green. And though she was the governor's daughter and should have been treated like royalty, as was the tradition in Munchkinland, people were wary of her. She was different, and the only differences Munchkins readily accepted were ones of height.

It wasn't just her skin that fascinated people though, as if that wasn't enough. No, to top it off she was intelligent. Fantastically so. When she looked at you, you felt as if you were being inspected by Lurline herself. Her hazel eyes held no contempt, but were filled with outlandish wisdom. As if the only reason she didn't speak was because she hadn't forgotten her knowledge of the before yet, and Lurline didn't want any of her secrets revealed.

Of course, no one would dare tell her father that. He was so firmly embedded in his Unionism that if he learned his little green girl had been compared to Lurline he'd probably have died on the spot, joined his wife in an early grave.

Which was actually why there was a crowd of people at the Unionist chapel that day. And why anyone was able to really see Elphaba at all. They'd gathered to mourn the passing of their dear first-lady. Normally Frex didn't allow his daughter to be out on display much, but she couldn't very well be absent from her own mother's funeral could she? It was bad enough that they couldn't bring the other daughter, the new baby.

Naturally people whispered and talked. Some dared wonder if Frex had had his wife killed. She hadn't been the most -loyal- of wives. And rumors of her escapades blazed through the grapevine like wildfire. Though no one dared question the first family of Munchkinland on the matter directly -or challenge it- it wasn't exactly wonderful for the Governor's reputation.

Others, who had known poor Melena, were less vindictive and instead wondered what would happen to her two girls. While the Thropp toddler certainly wasn't popular among the daycare, most felt at least some sympathy for the poor child who'd been left without a mother. And more for the new baby, who'd been born with some problem or another, because she'd never know her mother at all.

So the little people sat in on the funeral, some genuinely mournful, others there out of duty, but all entranced by the legacy Melena had left behind: her daughter. Her utterly green daughter.

Currently the child was sitting in the lap of an old biddy, who'd been Melena's own Nanny before being charged with caring for her daughter. She was dressed in a gauzy white shirt with matching pants that didn't quite go to her ankles. Both fit her loosely and contrasted magnificently with her dark hair and green skin. She was quite cute to be honest, and as her people looked at her they found themselves falling in love. Once they began to get over their shock at her oddness, they found her enchanting.

Some caught her spellbinding eyes, and offered smiles, to which the girl would shyly turn her lips upward.

Unfortunately the smiles wouldn't last long. For as the bumbling preacher finally shut up to allow Frexspar to deliver the final eulogy, someone in the audience had to make some catty remark under their breath. Little Elphaba's eyes narrowed, the light that had twinkled there before burst into angry flames as she zeroed in on the mean creature who'd made the comment. Though many in the assembly hadn't even heard it, all would later swear that the eighteen-month-old had. And even more preposterously they would also claim she'd understood the awful words.

Within the next moment the fire in Elphaba's eyes spread. Sparks flew at the spiteful woman's feet and moments later her dress burst into flame. Those around her leapt to put it out in a panicked rush. While Elphaba looked on with what would have been satisfaction and awe if her face had been more mature.

"Horrors," the child whispered, so low only her Nanny could hear.

Fortunately no one was hurt, and the funeral was cut short. Only the closest to the family stayed at the burial.

Life would never be the same for the little girl. The rumor mill worked overtime, generated tales of how the child had hexed the gossip. Exaggeration stretched the story wildly out of proportion, until everyone was fearful of the governor's small daughter and mothers vowed to never allow their children near the green girl.

The next day, the storms started. Horrible storms, with thunder and lightning and twisters unlike any Oz had ever seen before. There was trouble afoot, terrible things happening in Oz. Dark days loomed on the horizon. Those same mothers pulled their children inside, afraid of the storms that raged beyond the

Soon though news from the Emerald City brought hope to the people in Munchkinland. News of a new, wonderful leader. And when the storms finally stopped the mothers allowed their children outside once more.

They wouldn't see much of the Thropp girl, who wasn't allowed to venture outside. They liked it that way. But sometimes the children would see her at the window of the Governor's mansion. She would watch them play for hours, tangled, half-hidden in the curtains. Wondering why she couldn't go outside with them until Nanny found her and pulled her back into the nursery.

Well there's the first chapter for ya, I apologize for the lack of action and the excessive description. I promise there will be more actual character interaction in the next chapter but I had to set up for it. I hope you liked it, please review, constructive criticism is always welcomed.