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After Dorothy had gotten back to the farm house with Ellie, Aislynn and her uncle, her aunt served lunch. She was delighted to know that Doctor foreman was still around and would eventually become their neighbor. When Dorothy had finished her lunch she rolled the chair to her bed room and collected the pink orb, her little pocket compendium, and her hair ribbon of keys and placed them back in her pockets. At about half past four Dorothy heard her aunt calling. She wheeled herself out to the living room and found her aunt and uncle dressed in their best clothes, they were ready to go out to dinner with the Teaks and the Maitlands. Dorothy smiled, grabbed the scepter and looked around the living room. She saw that Aislynn and Ellie were nowhere to be seen, neither was Toto.
"Glinda wanted them to stay the night in Oz, apparently she has a plan of some sort but that's all she would tell us." Em said walking over to Dorothy.
"Well then let's go to the Teaks residence then." Dorothy said smiling.
Em and henry both looked at each other and nodded. Soon Dorothy found herself being assisted into their truck by her uncle. He then took the wheel chair and tied it down on the bed of the truck. Soon enough they were off. At one minute to five they arrived at the Teak's. Henry got out of the truck first and untied the wheelchair and brought to the seat that Dorothy was sitting in and opened the door. Alex then ran out of the house and over to the truck and assisted Dorothy into the chair.
"Thanks alex." Dorothy said as Alex pushed the chair towards the house.
"No problem." He said as Mr. and Mrs. Teak emerged from the house.
"Thank you for doing this Dorothy, there are cookies in the kitchen help yourself to them, we'll try to be back before eight." Mrs. Teak said giving Dorothy a quick hug.
"Don't worry about it, you guys have a good time, stay out as long as you'd like." Dorothy said smiling.
Mr. and Mrs. Teak both laughed as they walked over to their own truck. Alex smiled and pushed Dorothy into the house. Shutting and locked the door behind him as they went in.
"What are they afraid someone's going to run in and steal you guys?" Dorothy asked giggling as she rolled herself into the living room where Annabella was waiting in her playpen playing with the stuffed bear that Glinda had tried to get her to play with.
"Mom left the number to my uncle's house and to Doctor Maxwell's office on the fridge." Alex said pushing Dorothy over to the couch.
"Mr. Alistair isn't going out with them?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"No, now that Donna's parents are back in town he decided to spend the day out of town with my aunt." Alex said helping Dorothy out of the wheelchair and onto the couch,
"Thanks, how was your day?" Dorothy asked setting the scepter down next to her.
"Boring, had to help mom find dad's good suit while he was working in the shop making something." Alex said walking over to the playpen and picking up Annabella.
"Dorothy!" she shouted finally noticing Dorothy was here.
"Hello Annabella." Dorothy said as Alex sat down on the couch next to her and placed Annabella on his lap.
"She was asking for you until she found that stuffed bear and started playing with it." Alex said as he heard a kitchen timer ding.
"What was that?" Dorothy asked.
"Dinner's done, mom left some leftovers in the oven to warm up for us to have for dinner, its left over ham from lunch." Alex said.
"Would you like some help getting it?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"No, you just take Annabella and I'll go get it." Alex said handing Annabella to Dorothy and walked out of the room.
Annabella climbed off of Dorothy and stood up on the couch. She then kissed Dorothy on the cheek and hugged her tightly making Dorothy giggle.
"Dorothy." Annabella said as Alex walked in with three plates of ham and mashed potatoes.
"She really does love you." Alex said smiling.
"I know." Dorothy said as Alex handed her a plate and a fork and knife.
Alex then put a plate of ham that was cut up into tiny cubes to his little sister who immediately began eating them. Alex then sat down and began eating. As did Dorothy. They ate in silence for about half an hour before Annabella had finished her little ham cubes and wanted to go back into the playpen with her toys. Alex put his plate on coffee table and picked up Annabella. He then carefully put her in the playpen.
"You done." Alex asked curiously.
"Yes, I can take the plates and wash them if you'd like." Dorothy said handing the plate to Alex.
"No, no, I'll take care of it, you just watch Annabella." Alex said taking the plates and walking out.
Dorothy looked down at Annabella and smiled as she watched her play with the stuffed bear. She then chuckled, smiling she sighed happily and leaned back against the couch. After about ten minutes Alex came back in wiping his hands off on his shirt. He then sat back down next to Dorothy again and looked at Annabella and chuckled.
"So, trying to relax?" he said poking her hard on the side teasingly.
"Trying? No, failing, yes." Dorothy said,
"Here, let me help." Alex said grabbing Dorothy's ankles and moving her legs to a position so that she was laying on the couch.
"Thanks alex." Dorothy said pushing herself over so that she was lying on her chest and able to see Annabella.
"Dorothy Comfy?" Annabella asked looking up.
"Yes Annabella." Dorothy said giggling.
Alex chuckled and looked up at the clock, it was now almost six o'clock. He got up and walked over to a nearby arm chair and sat in it,
"It will be time for Annabella to go to bed soon." Alex said.
"It's almost seven o'clock already?" Dorothy asked.
"No it's almost six." Alex said switching on a radio that was next to him.
The radio crackled to life and violin music started coming out of it.
"Anything else interesting on?" Dorothy asked.
"The channel switch broke off about a year ago, this is the only thing we ever hear on this radio." Alex said switching it off.
"Oh." Dorothy said shifting her position so that she was lying on her back.
Dorothy then shifted herself into a sitting position and pulled herself into the wheelchair. She then rolled over to the playpen and smiled.
"Dorothy?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes?" Dorothy replied.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked curiously.
"Watching Annabella, and out of curiosity, why do you require a sitter when you can do this stuff yourself?" Dorothy asked turning the wheelchair towards Alex.
"Because my parents don't trust me really." Alex said getting up and walking over to the playpen.
"Okay then, I can kinda guess why." Dorothy said giggling.
"Hey." He said playfully punching her on the arm.
"You know alex." Dorothy said trying to sound annoyed yet in a teasing tone.
They both laughed at this for a minute. Then Annabella wanted to be picked up.
Meanwhile in the emerald city
Glinda and Ellie were standing in front of the crystal ball keeping an eye on Dorothy. Ellie was shocked to see Alex being nice and now really began to question whether or not she was wrong about him. Glinda merely chuckled and sighed.
"Ah young love." She said waving her wand over the crystal ball causing it to go dark.
"Ah sis, don't talk like that." Ellie said gagging.
"Ha, you'll think the same way when your Dorothy's age." Glinda said.
"Glinda she's only about a year older than I am." Ellie said.
"So?" Glinda said chuckling.
"Glinda!" Ellie complained.
Meanwhile in the library, Aislynn and scarecrow were reading in the armchairs of the library. Toto was on the ground in front of them watching them read with intent. After a few more minutes of this he walked over to Aislynn and jumped up on her lap.
"You're tired aren't you Toto? Well you've had a long day." Aislynn said petting him.
"Should we bring him to Dorothy's room?" Scarecrow asked curiously.
"Yes, let's" Aislynn said setting her book down and picking up Toto, got up and walked towards the door.
Scarecrow got up and followed as they walked out of the library. It didn't take them too long to get to Dorothy's bedroom which was left open. Aislynn brought Toto over to the bed and set him down on it. He then curled up into a ball and fell asleep. Aislynn sighed and walked back over to the scarecrow, they then walked hand in hand back to the library.
Meanwhile back in Kansas.
Annabella was busy playing with her toys when she yawned loudly. Dorothy looked over at the clock. It was now ten of seven. Dorothy looked at Alex who nodded and picked up Annabella handing her to Dorothy. She cradled Annabella in her arms and hummed a lullaby. After a few minutes Annabella was asleep in Dorothy's arms. She then handed Annabella back off to Alex who carefully took her and brought her upstairs. Dorothy then sighed and wheeled over to the couch. She pushed herself out of the wheelchair and back onto the couch and picked up the scepter. She looked into the orb and noticed the red haze was still in the center. She still wondered what it meant but decided to ignore it. After a few seconds Alex quietly came back into the room.
"Annabella's in her crib, want to listen to some music?" He asked.
"Sure." Dorothy said.
Alex turned on the radio and the sound of more violin music filled the room. Alex smiled and turned down the volume so that it was a mellow sound. He then walked over to the couch and sat down next to Dorothy. Dorothy looked at him and smiled, she then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek making him blush. Dorothy smiled and giggled again.
"So, feelings mutual?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yep." Dorothy said placing down the scepter
Alex got up and yawned.
"I'm going to go get a drink, want anything?" He asked curiously.
"No thanks I'm good." She replied.
Alex smiled and walked out of the room. Dorothy sighed and stretched. She then leaned back on the couch and yawned. The sound of the violin music was relaxing and calming. Alex walked back into the room a few minutes later carrying two glasses of milk and a large plate of cookies.
"Cookie?" he offered.
Dorothy smiled and took a cookie. He then set the glasses of milk and the plate on the coffee table.
"I know you said you didn't want any but mom said help yourself to the cookies and who doesn't like them with milk?" Alex said taking one for himself.
"Alex, would you mind helping me with my flats?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Not at all." He said getting up and walking over to Dorothy and kneeling down and pulling off Dorothy's flats for her, handing them to her.
"Thanks." She said taking the flats and placing them on the side table. The clock then finally struck eight o'clock and she yawned.
Alex chuckled and picked up his glass of milk and a cookie. He dunked the cookie once and then chugged the glass of milk. Sighing and wiping off his lips he then took a bite from the cookie.
"Impressive." Dorothy said eating her cookie and picking up the glass of milk and taking a sip.
Dorothy then yawned again and leaned back closing her eyes, before she even knew it she was asleep. She awoke to the sound of the clock striking four. The lights were turned off and the scepter was floating a few feet in front of her giving off a red and green glow. She noticed that she now had a quilt wrapped around her. She smiled as she pulled herself off the couch and into her wheelchair which was close enough for her to do this. She then rolled herself out of the living room and to the kitchen. When she got to the kitchen she found an empty cup on the table with a note saying 'in case you get thirsty' she smiled and picked it up. She then rolled over to the sink and filled the cup up. Taking a quick drink she dumped the rest out into the sink basin and set the cup down on the counter. She then rolled back into the living room and over to the couch she had been resting on. She then picked up the scepter which began to glow brighter. She then leaned the scepter back down against the couch and then managed to use most of her strength to push herself out of the wheelchair and back onto the couch. She then heard the sounds of creaking from the rooms upstairs. She turned her head and the next thing she realized was that the sense of hearing that she had when she was a cat had stuck with her. It wasn't long before she heard footsteps approaching, she knew for sure they were Alex's. She could tell this because whoever was walking around upstairs didn't seem to care if they woke up everyone in the house. She then shook her head a few times to clear it and the sounds faded. She then laid back down on the couch and tried to pretend to be asleep as someone entered into the room.
"Dorothy, I know you're awake." Alex said in a whisper.
Dorothy opened her eyes and pushed herself back into a sitting position. She looked over to Alex and saw that it wasn't just him. Annabella was standing next to him rubbing her eyes. She then walked over to the couch and climb up onto it. She then laid down and rested her head in Dorothy's lap.
"Why are you two up so early?" Dorothy asked in a loud whisper.
"Because, well." He said walking over and handing her a piece of paper.
Dorothy took it and read it to herself, it was a note from Glinda, and she would be brought to Oz as well as Alex and Annabella with her.
"Alex, would you please grab a pad of paper and something to write with?" Dorothy said.
Alex nodded and ran out of the room. He returned a few seconds later with a small notepad and a pencil. He then handed it to Dorothy who wrote down a quick note about where they were and not to worry. She then placed it down on the coffee table. Alex then helped her with her flats and picked up Annabella. He then walked over to the wheelchair and grabbed it. He and Annabella then vanished in a flash. She then picked up the scepter and felt herself lurch forward. Soon as the feelings of being dizzy and sick began they stopped as she fell into the wheelchair. She caught her breath and placed the scepter down on the ground and looked around to see what room she was in, it was the chambers, except they were darkened by the early morning.
"Good morning Dorothy." Came the tired voice of Alison.
"Alison, where's Glinda?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"With your friends, giving them a quick rundown on what going on." She said snapping her fingers, in turn causing the room to light up.
"But why so early?" she asked stretching.
"Because, right now everything is all about you, according to the Nome King, you could learn how to walk again, however it will take a lot of will power and energy to do so." Alison replied.
"So, learning how to walk at my own expense?" Dorothy asked a bit concerned.
"Well, yes and no, as long as you keep the scepter with you or at least near you it should assist you along the way, but like I said this will take a lot of will power and a lot of energy." She said pulling out her little book flipping through the pages and handing it to Dorothy.
Dorothy read through it quickly, it seemed fair enough, and she was getting a little annoyed by the wheelchair even though she had only been in it for a few day. She handed the book back to Alison and held her hand out at the scepter. It once more flew directly to her hands. She then rolled herself to the door and found Glinda waiting just outside it with Annabella in her arms.
"Ah, Dorothy, I'm sure Alison has explained everything to you." She said in a hushed voice.
"Yes, where's alex?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"He went to the library with scarecrow and Aislynn, Ellie isn't too happy about him being here though, I believe she's currently in your room pouting." Glinda said walking around Dorothy and into the chambers.
Dorothy sighed and rolled to her bedroom, sure the wheelchair got her their faster than walking would have but it was still a pain in the neck to have to do it all the time. When she got to her room she found Ellie, on her bed petting Toto, she didn't seem too happy, when she saw Dorothy she instantly turned her face to avoid her gaze.
"Ellie?" Dorothy said rolling into the room.
"Morning." She said in a weak tone.
"Ellie, I know that you don't like the idea of Alex being here but…" Dorothy said as Ellie cut her off.
"It's not that Dorothy, it's just, you changed him, he defended you when his cronies were attacking you, I didn't even think that your goal was realistic enough to work, but you were right, and he has changed, I guess it's that I don't like being wrong about things." Ellie said taking Toto off her lap and getting up.
"So you're not upset about me and alex being friends, but more or less that I was able to get him to be a better person within a matter of days, not to mention without getting myself severely injured in the process?" Dorothy asked curiously, as well as extremely confused.
"I know, confusing isn't it?" Ellie asked teasingly.
Dorothy smiled and rolled over to Ellie, who finally looked up.
"Sure it's confusing but Ellie, just realize this, there will be times in your life when you are proven wrong, you may not like it but it happens." Dorothy said stopping just short of the foot of the bed.
"I know, Dorothy, I've learned a lot over the last year or so, and most of it was from you." Ellie said smiling.
"I'm flattered." Dorothy replied giggling.
"You're welcome, anyways, let's go to the chambers, your lessons will be starting soon." She said walking around the wheelchair, turning it around and pushing it out of the room.
Meanwhile while all this was going on scarecrow and Alex were helping Aislynn get some books to read.
"How long do you think it would take to read every book in this entire library?" Alex asked looking over to the scarecrow who was currently up on a ladder next to one of the bookshelves.
"I don't know, I haven't even gotten that far yet, but I'm assuming if you started reading the books one after another nonstop, maybe a few years." He said walking down the ladder with a few books.
"Okay, even thinking about that makes my brain ache." Alex said rubbing his temples.
"I know, just the thought of trying to read nonstop is mindboggling even for me, and though I don't like to brag, I am probably much smarter than you." He said chuckling.
"That's not much of an achievement." Aislynn said walking over to them.
"Aislynn be nice." Scarecrow said handing her the books.
"Aislynn if I were really dumb do you think I'd be in the advanced class with you, Ellie, and Dorothy, not to mention my own cousin?" Alex asked curiously.
"Well no, but let's face it, you and I both know that a lot of people are definitely smarter than you." Aislynn said giggling.
"Okay no arguing, I'm still smarter than both of you." The scarecrow said chuckling.
"Good point, hey ace?" Alex asked looking at her.
"Yes?" She replied.
"I'm sorry for making fun of you all those times at the library." Alex said.
"Apology accepted." Aislynn said smiling.
"Alex, Aislynn, Scarecrow!?" Came the voice of Alison.
"Is it time to start?" Scarecrow asked.
"Yep." Alison said.
"Well then come on you two, let's go." Scarecrow said grabbing both of them by the hand and dragging them along.
Soon after everyone was gathered back in the chambers. Glinda raised her wand and everything went silent. No noise could be heard outside of the sounds of everyone breathing.
"Now, we need to have this place as quiet as possible, that way it's easier for you to concentrate." Glinda said calmly.
"What are the odds of her getting it first go?" Ellie asked curiously looking at her sister.
"Rather low, odds are she'll most likely pass out first." Alison whispered before Glinda could even say anything.
"Right, alex help her get her balance please." Glinda said referring to Dorothy.
Alex nodded, walked over to Dorothy and took her by the hand. She tossed the scepter which flew to the middle of the room and hovered there. As soon as Dorothy had her balance Alex walked away from her and over to Glinda. Annabella, who had been silent up to this point was looking at the scepter wide-eyed.
"Now Dorothy, I want you to concentrate, focus on walking, and when you think you've got enough focus on it, I want you to try and take a step." Glinda said waving her wand again causing all of the lights in the room to dim, even the scepter was affected.
Dorothy stood there for a second, she took a few deep breaths, concentrating hard on trying to move all of her energy to her legs. But her concentration was broken by a memory, one that she didn't even know she remembered. A winter so many years ago, the first winter she ever remembered she had gotten herself onto a frozen pond, she found that ice was cracking underneath her and got scared. Her mother had comforted her then and helped her.
"Come on Dorothy, you can do it, just take a step towards momma." Came the voice of her mother.
I-I-I cant." Dorothy replied in scared tone.
"Darling, I can't come out there, the ice won't support me, and you need to be brave, come on just one step." She said opening her arms.
"I'm frightened Momma." Dorothy said looking down at her feet and the cracks in the ice.
"I know my child, but you have to try." She said.
Dorothy closed her eyes and started to take a step, she immediately began to lose her balance but caught herself, she opened her eyes and took a small step, she then moved a little more slowly.
"There, take it easy now, come on." She said.
"Momma please, I'm frightened." Dorothy said as the ice cracked some more.
"Dorothy please, just a few more steps." She replied in desperation.
Dorothy closed her eyes again. She held her breath and took a step forward, then another, and another. The sound of the ice cracking made her open her eyes again scared she looked down and saw all of the cracks below her. She looked forward in desperation to see her mother only a few more steps away. She breathed out and ran, the ice breaking under her. She made it into her mother's grasp just as the ice broke completely.
Dorothy was snapped out of the memory by someone embracing her tightly. She opened her own eyes to find Ellie with her arms wrapped around her. She then realized that she had been crying again.
"Dorothy, you were remembering something, what were you remembering dear?" Glinda asked walking over and pulling Ellie away.
"I, I, I was remembering, Glinda, please I don't really want to talk about it." Dorothy said as she collapsed backwards into the wheel chair, out of energy.
Glinda sighed and placed a hand on Dorothy's forehead. She drew back after a few seconds and waved her wand over Dorothy.
"She's ice cold, whatever she saw, it was time where she was really, really frightened." Glinda said waving her wand causing all the lights to brighten again.
The scepter floated down to Dorothy and began to glow. Annabella ran over to it and tried to touch it only to have Glinda pull her away.
"Let the scepter do its work my child." Glinda said walking Annabella over to Ellie.
"When should we try again?" Alison asked curiously.
"Later, when she wakes again, but this time we should bring her to the clearing, a more peaceful environment." Glinda said with a deep and heavy sigh.
"Alex?" Ellie said looking over to the boy.
"Yes?" He replied looking over to her.
"I'm sorry about punching you, I guess we just kind of got off on the wrong foot." Ellie said scratching the back of her neck.
"No need to apologize, if I were you I would have punched me as well." Alex said making every chuckle a bit.
"Anyways, I don't think we were ever properly introduced, I'm Ellie Upland, Glinda's sister and Heir to the throne of the north." Ellie said curtseying.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your grace." Alex said bowing.
"Oh please don't do that." Ellie said.
"Ellie you are of age where if I become unable to perform my duties you end up having to take over for me." Glinda said
"Why didn't you tell me this months ago?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Because I didn't want to worry you." Glinda said sighing and then remembering what she was going to do.
"Ellie it's a fair argument, I mean it's not like Glinda will be incapacitated in a coma or captured by the jester again." Alison said a Glinda shot her an angry look.
"Fair enough Alison, anyways has anyone checked on the progress on the jester's spell?" Ellie asked curiously.
"No progress, our spell is holding for now, but it's only a matter of time I assume before he strengthens it." Alison said.
Dorothy then groaned her eyes opened and she sat up.
"Agh, what happened?" She asked grabbing the scepter.
"You passed out, that took a lot out of you." Glinda said walking over to Dorothy and placing a hand under her chin.
"Oh, Glinda, please, can we try again?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yes my dear, but this time in a much more peaceful location." She said pushing the wheelchair out of the chambers, everyone following slowly behind.
No one said anything, not even Dorothy who observed as the scepter floated into her hand. Soon all of them were out at the docks and loading onto Tugg's deck.
"Where to?" he asked in surprise as everyone piled onto the deck.
"The clearing Tugg." Glinda said.
"Yes mam." He said embarking towards the clearing.
"Why the clearing Glinda?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It's much more calming and serene I figured it may help you concentrate better." Glinda replied watching the sunrise.
Dorothy nodded and sighed. Tightening her grip on the scepter and looked at Alex who was talking with Aislynn and Ellie while Annabella was trying to get up to see the scenery. Scarecrow walked over to her and smiled.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do great, we both know you can do it." He said trying to sound motivating.
"Thanks scarecrow, I know I can but it's really tasking, and I, oh never mind." She said rolling over to the front of the boat and sighing.
It wasn't long before they finally reached the clearing. Dorothy sighed as they all disembarked and Dorothy went to the middle of the clearing. Alex once more helped her get her balance. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, concentrated, and blacked out.
Happy Late thanksgiving if you celebrate it. anyways tthe next few chapters will take place two months later in december making way for my special christmas chapter