Disclaimer, the usual.

The night before Monday dorothy barely slept a wink. As it became dawn she got up and made sure once again she had everything packed. She didn't plan to bring the scepter with here as that would most likely raise many questions. She kept the slippers in a shoebox she had found while looking for a suitcase. She was about to meet some very distance relatives in a matter of days. However, as she was going through her things she found the letter from her mother that Jon had given her on Christmas. She locked it in her dresser having not even thought about opening it. both toto and pockets were asleep on her bed still. She had her clothes, her boots and her flats packed away. She had gotten a carrier for toto and pockets to share. She had already picked up her ticket for the express. As she woke her two pets up and put them in the carrier she sighed. Six months, that's how long she would be away. When it was time to go to the station she was accompanied by alex and her aunt.

"so, six months, long time." Alex said.

"yep." Dorothy replied.

"I noticed you don't have the scepter, are you leaving that behind?" alex asked.

"I'd rather not be asked about it." Dorothy said.

"Fair point." Alex said.

Dorothy smiled and hugged him tightly. Just then they heard the conductor shout.

"Last call for the express train to California! Last Call!" he shouted

The two of then hugged for one last time. She then ran to her aunt and hugged her tightly.

"Don't get yourself into any trouble." Em said.

"No promises." Dorothy said smiling.

Her aunt kissed her forehead and smiled back. Dorothy then grabbed her suit cases and the carrier and walked over to the train. The conductor helped her get her things onto one of the top racks. Within moments the train began moving. She waved to alex and her aunt as it pulled out of the station. A few moments later she was seeing trees pass her by. Eventually when the train was going fast enough speed she got up and stretched.

"so, a new adventure, in a new place." Pockets said.

"yep." Dorothy replied looking at her pets through the bars of the carrier.

"Excuse me miss, ticket please." Came the voice of the conductor as he walked by.

Dorothy smiled and handed him her ticket which he punched.

"Round trip from California to Kansas, first time?" he asked.

"yes, first time, never been to any other states." Dorothy said.

"well, travel does broaden the mind." The conductor said.

"indeed." Dorothy said.

"Well, enjoy the ride." He said tipping his hat to her.

Dorothy smiled and sighed. She was already beginning to feel a bit lonelier. It was a two-day train ride according to most people she had talked to. After a couple of hours, she found herself bored and wishing she had gotten a ball from ellie. And eventually she nodded off. However, she found herself being woken by the voice of the conductor.

"apologies for waking you, but the buffet car is open if you're hungry." He said before walking off.

Dorothy stood up and stretched. Sighing she looked and found her pets asleep. Getting up and walking to the buffet car which was two cars behind her own, she grabbed an apple and sat a booth. A boy with pale skin, who couldn't have been much older than she was walked up to her carrying a tray with a sandwich on it.

"excuse me is this seat taken by anyone?" he asked.

"No, feel free." Dorothy replied.

"I'm joe." He said extending a hand.

"Dorothy." She replied.

"you on your own as well?" he asked.

"well I have my two pets but they're asleep in my compartment." Dorothy said.

"oh, I'm here with my uncle, he's the conductor, I'm actually visiting a friend, she moved to California from my home state in Arizona." He replied.

"that's nice, I'm going to be staying with some relatives for a minimum of six months." Dorothy said.

"sounds like fun." He said.

"I don't know, I've never actually met them, my aunt and her brother never really saw eye to eye, but it's a family emergency and I don't need my cousins having separation anxiety." Dorothy said.

"oh yes, that's always fun, my little brother got separation anxiety the first time I took this trip to California." He said taking a bite from his sandwich.

"have you got any friends in California apart from the girl you're visiting?" dorothy asked.

"Just one, and we don't always agree completely, but he's a good guy, he means well, his head is just in the wrong place sometimes." He said.

"Hmm, maybe I'll run into you guys at some point." Dorothy said.

"Well there's a carnival in a couple months, maybe I'll see you and your relatives." He replied.

"maybe, anything is possible." Dorothy said taking a bite from the apple she was holding.

"normally I bring a tray with a sandwich on it to my uncle's compartment but every now and again I talk to the random travelers, this time I'm staying in California for the year getting tutored by my friend's mom." He said.

"oh, there you are JoJo." Came the voice of the conductor.

"Uncle Ed I told you not to call me that while on the train." Joe said.

"Sorry, oh, I see you've found a friend." He said walking over.

"yes." Joe replied

"fast friends, well, you shouldn't wander off, your mother would kill me if you got hurt or something." He replied.

"she's your sister, that seems more like a personal issue." Joe said.

Dorothy chuckled at this conversation, there was something about it that was amusing to her.

"And Loretta would never forgive you if you managed to get hurt." He added.

"I assume Lorretta is your friend?" dorothy asked.

"yep, she and her family live on a ranch, about a mile off the property line of my other friend's." Joe replied.

"oh, nice." Dorothy replied.

"well I should probably go before my uncle drags me out of here, it was nice talking to you." Joe said finishing off his sandwich and getting up

"I'm sure I'll see you around." Dorothy said.

"well, assuming there are no delays it's about a two-day trip." Joe replied.

"thanks for the information." Dorothy said getting up and stretching again.

Joe smiled and walked away with his uncle. Dorothy smiled and walked back towards her car. When she got there, she went into her suit case and pulled out some bags of cat treats and dog biscuits. She fed her pets, and soon drifted off to sleep again.