Disclaimer, the usual.
Dorothy was awoken by the sounds of crashing, plates breaking, and Hawkeye yelling. Looking around the room she found the door shut but could hear a terrible ruckus going on outside.
"Stop! Harold! Cut it out!" she heard Hawkeye shout.
looking around she found a clock and noticed she had only slept for about two hours. Getting up and stretching, she grabbed the scepter and sighed.
"would you two be quiet, I'm sure our guest is trying to sleep." Came a woman's voice.
Suddenly it fell silent, she sighed and walked over to the door. Opening it she was immediately met with the gazes of a woman, a small boy, and Hawkeye.
"Oh, miss, I'm so sorry, did my son and Hawkeye wake you?" the woman asked.
The woman, was tall, with flaming red hair and pale skin, she was wearing a salmon pink shirt and a skirt to match. Her son, Harold looked like a spitting image of the mayor, except he, like his mother had flaming red hair. His outfit, was a black shirt with a brown vest, brown pants, and a set of rough looking boots on his feet.
"No, it's alright, I had hoped my friend would have woken me by now." Dorothy said.
"excuse, miss, but might I ask who you and your friend are?" the woman asked.
"your husband didn't tell you?" dorothy asked.
"no, said I'd like the surprise." She replied.
Dorothy sighed and stepped out of the room, allowing the scepter to come into view.
"well, I'm dorothy, dorothy gale." Dorothy said.
"the dorothy gale?" Harold asked.
"been a while since anyone's called me that, but yes." Dorothy said.
"your majesty, I'm sorry if we disturbed you!" the woman immediately said.
"please, just call me dorothy." Dorothy said.
"what are you doing here anyways?" Harold asked.
"visiting, though, now that I'm thinking about it, doesn't the mayor normally visit you guys?" dorothy asked.
"normally yes, but this is the celebration of the day the wizard came to Oz, which is a holiday, so we come here." The woman said.
A moment later she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. And was met with alex.
"oh, so you are awake, did they wake you?" Alex asked.
"yes, but it's alright." Dorothy said.
"you must be alex, the boy that Dorothy's always hanging around." The woman said.
"yes ma'am." Alex replied.
"mom, where's dad?" Harold asked.
"I think he's making sure that everything is set." The woman said.
"well, I should get back to work." Alex said.
"Hawkeye, can you take Harold outside." The woman suggested.
"yes ma'am." Hawkeye said walking over to the stairs followed by Harold.
"Now, there is so much I want to ask you if you're willing to tell." The woman said turning to dorothy.
"anything in particular?" dorothy asked.
"well, mostly about emerald city." She said.
Meanwhile in emerald city.
"but can't you just transport yourself to the village?" Ozma asked
"no, not while the borders are closed, magic does have its limits, while the borders are closed, thanks to Roquat's magic, no one can get in or out of there magically." Glinda said.
"and I can't either." Madeline said.
"well, it's just a week." Ozma said sighing.
"Ozma, perhaps we could continue your swimming lessons?" Madeline suggested.
"Hatter, not without dorothy here." Ozma said.
"and given what happened last time, I'd say, in shallower waters." Madeline said.
"if you can find someplace convenient." Ozma said.
"well, there's the underground lake I learned to swim in." Madeline said.
"where's that?" Glinda asked.
"my old branch of the community, people still inhabit that area, I go there sometimes to tend my old flower garden, I have some nice roses growing for a rather floral hat I'm working on." Madeline said smiling.
"alright, well, I'd have to think about it." Glinda said.
Ozma groaned and sighed. Immediately after however, toto and pockets ran into the room and jumped on Ozma's lap.
"well at least these two wanted to stay, they can keep you company." Madeline said.
Toto barked and licked Ozma's face causing her to giggle.
"Well, I do like having these two around." Ozma said.
"well, you girls have fun, I have to go check in on ellie and the girls, then I have to check on Alyssa and Terrance, Alyssa has been having trouble with getting a wedding dress, she doesn't know what one she likes best, so she wants Locasta and I to mediate." Glinda said.
"why not just have dorothy design one like she did for the china princess?" Madeline asked.
"I've thought about that, but haven't been in the same room with them for more than a few seconds." Glinda said.
"I know, I can't even talk to them when they're here." Madeline said.
"and I don't even try to bother them, I have no reason." Ozma said.
"well, anyways, if you girls need anything, the other girls should be finishing up with their meeting shortly after I check in on them." Glinda said walking out of the chambers.
Meanwhile in Kansas.
Em was busy putting together a nice soup for dinner, having gotten the news that dorothy and alex would be staying in Oz for a while, she instinctively invited the teaks over however. They were now sitting in the living room. Little Annabella was playing with the triplets, Aislynn was curled up in an armchair with a book. And Mr. and Mrs. Teak were talking to henry.
"so, any plans for Dorothy's birthday? that'll be coming up soon." Mrs. Teak asked.
"no, I think Madeline has a plan, and I heard that alex already got something for her." henry said.
"oh yes, I've seen it." Mr. Teak said.
"As have I." Mrs. Teak said.
"you know, I know they're still young, but sometimes I half expect alex to come here ask for our blessing." Henry said.
"what are you going on about henry?" Em asked walking out of the kitchen.
"I was just saying that some days, I half expect alex to come here, and ask for our blessing to marry dorothy." Henry said.
"you too?" Em asked.
"I think we all expect it at some point, but would they get married here or in Oz?" Aislynn asked looking up from her book.
"that would be up to them, I should think." Mrs. teak said.
"I'd put my money on Oz, but yes it would be up to them." Em said.
"by the way Emily, have you heard back from your brother?" Mrs. Teak asked.
"not yet, not sure if I will, I hope I will soon though." She replied.
They all shared a sigh before Em went to go check on the soup.
Meanwhile back at the village
"but yes, it's a beautiful place." Dorothy said.
"I see." She replied.
"anything else that you'd like to know?" dorothy asked.
"no, that's all." She said getting up.
Dorothy smiled and got up. She and the Mayor's wife walked downstairs to find alex had taken the door off its hinges and was measuring the door frame and taking notes.
"has the mayor gotten you the materials yet?" dorothy asked.
"not yet, I actually don't know where he is." Alex said
"it's getting late, and the village isn't really that large, he should be back by now." The mayor's wife said
"where's Hawkeye and Harold?" dorothy asked.
"last I saw them, Harold was chasing Hawkeye towards the western border." Alex said.
"but there's nothing over that way apart from forest." She said getting worried.
Dorothy looked at alex who shrugged. Then it clicked with both of them.
"has that forest ever been used for lumber?" Alex asked.
"oh yes, very often, but the trees grow back quickly thanks to the magic provided to us." She replied.
"that must be where he is, your son and Hawkeye must have followed after." Alex said.
"seems reasonable enough, but it'll be dark soon and I didn't see them bring a lantern." She said.
"is it hard to see when its dark in that forest?" Dorothy asked.
"are you sure you got enough sleep dear?" Alex asked.
"I'm only asking because the village seems to be relatively well lit otherwise." Dorothy said.
"well, I wouldn't know, I don't go out that way for fear of being crushed by a falling branch or something." The mayor's wife replied.
"I see, well, alex and I can go looking for them if you'd like." Dorothy said.
"if it's not too much trouble." She replied.
"it's no trouble at all." Dorothy said tightening her grasp on the scepter.
Alex sighed and put his things in his toolbox. After locking it, he took Dorothy's hand and they started for the western border. It didn't take long for them to reach it and the forest. It took even less time to find the group. Both Hawkeye and Harold were asleep under a tree while the mayor was busy swinging an axe into one of the trees.
"um, Mr. mayor, sir?" dorothy asked causing him to jump.
"oh, dorothy, alex, you scared me." He said setting down the axe.
"how long have you been chopping at that tree?" alex asked taking the scepter and walking over.
"not sure, I guess I lost track of time." The mayor said looking up at the sky.
"well, your son and Hawkeye are out cold." Dorothy said.
"that I knew, they nodded off about an hour or so ago." The mayor said.
"can I see that axe for a moment?" alex asked.
"sure." The mayor said handing it to him.
Alex took it and ran his finger across the blade. It felt dull, really dull. Bringing the scepter up to it confirmed it. the edge of the blade had been whacked to a dull flat edge.
"just as I suspected, um, when was the last time you sharpened this?" Alex asked.
"sharpened it? I just got it a few months ago, haven't taken it to the grindstone yet." The mayor said.
"okay, well, it needs sharpening." Alex said.
"hm, I'll have to do that later tonight." The mayor said walking over to his son.
"should we wake them?" dorothy asked.
"that would be best, I managed to bore them to sleep with one of my stories." The mayor said.
"can I hear it?" dorothy asked.
"you wouldn't last through it, no one ever does, my voice just seems to bore people to sleep." The mayor said.
"hngh? What? How long have I been out?" Hawkeye asked.
"about an hour, Harold, wake up." The mayor said shaking his son.
"urk, hngh? Is the story over?" Harold asked getting to his feet.
"long over, come on, I'm sure Helen is worried sick." The mayor said.
"your wife's name is Helen?" alex asked.
"yes, I wanted my son to have a normal name." the Mayor said.
"so, your wife chose something that started with H, right? I've been meaning to ask that." Hawkeye said.
"oh, no I wanted it to start with an H, after his mother, so we went through a list and Harold was the one we agreed on." The mayor said.
"oh." Was all Hawkeye could say.
"it's dark." Harold said.
"yes, I uh, lost track of time." The mayor said.
"trying to chop down a tree with a dull axe." Alex said as they started walking.
When they got back to the village square and back to the mayor's house they found his wife, and Beatrice waiting anxiously for them.
"oh, thank goodness, you're all alright." Helen said.
"sorry, I lost track of time trying to chop down a tree to get some wood to replace the door." The mayor said.
"with a dull axe." Alex said
"Honey I told you to sharpen that thing two weeks ago, when you had trouble chopping firewood." Helen said.
"yes, well, you know how we men can be, not taking notice of a problem until we actually need to solve it to get something done in the first place." Alex said
"alex, you aren't like that." Dorothy said
"I see the point though, and the boy is right, I'm just stubborn." The Mayor said.
"no, you're not stubborn, you just always have a lot on your plate running this village." Helen said kissing him.
"Sir, dinners' ready." Beatrice said coming down stairs.
"Oh boy! Food!" Harold said running upstairs, knocking over Beatrice in the process.
"so, few things make that kid run, food it seems, is one of them, sir, ma'am, is it okay if I take my dinner in the watchtower?" Hawkeye asked.
"if you'd like." Helen said.
"please." He said.
Both Helen and the mayor nodded and Hawkeye smiled revealing all his sharp teeth before heading upstairs.
"smells like rice, peppers, beans, fresh corn, and warm biscuits." Dorothy said sniffing the air, her stomach letting out an audible growl.
"that's quite a nose you got there." Beatrice said.
"yes, it is, I couldn't do that." Alex said.
And with that they all went upstairs. A large amount of food was already set out on the middle of the table. Harold was sitting there waiting, his stomach growling having not eaten since lunch. As they all sat down and ate, Beatrice brought a plate up to Hawkeye.
"I've always wondered how he eats with those teeth of his, he always looks away from people when he eats." Harold said.
"Harold, please don't discuss things like that at the dinner table." The mayor said.
"Beatrice has out done herself yet again." Helen said trying to quickly change the subject.
"thank you, ma'am." Beatrice said.
"Beatrice I've told you, call me Helen." Helen said.
"yes ma'am." Beatrice said.
"I'm having that strange sense of déjà vu." Alex said.
Dorothy giggled and kissed him on the cheek causing retching sounds from to be emitted from Harold.
"oh Harold, I'm sure one day you'll find a sweetheart." Helen said.
"does Harold even have companions his own age?" Beatrice asked.
"No, every time he gets near one, they either end up hating him for some abstract reason." Helen said.
"interesting." Alex said
They continued the rest of the meal in silence. When they were finished dorothy helped Beatrice with dishes while alex and the mayor put the door back on its hinges for the night. The mayor then went down to the cellar to sharpen the axe. Alex then went to the guest room with dorothy.
"so, magical lock on the tool box?" dorothy asked.
"had Madeline procure it, not even you could get into it unless I wanted you too, ideal for hiding little surprises." Alex said.
"sneaky." Dorothy said sticking her tongue out at him.
"I know, that's the point." Alex said.
"what does it do if someone does try to get into it?" dorothy asked.
"zaps them, like the scepter." He said.
"ow." Dorothy said wincing.
"yep." Alex said as a knock came on the door.
"come in." dorothy said.
Immediately the door opened and Helen walked in.
"if you do plan to get any sleep, I'd suggest using these." She said setting two sets of ear plugs on the nightstand.
"ear plugs?" dorothy asked.
"ear plugs, my son, he sometimes gets night terrors, and he's a rather light sleeper, he'll be up just before sunrise and start making a storm's worth of noise." Helen said.
"thank you." Alex said.
Helen nodded and left the room. Shutting the door behind her.
"so, do we use them?" alex asked picking up a set of earplugs and examining them.
"will it make a difference? I'm up at around that time most days anyway." dorothy said.
"fair point, kitten." Alex said kissing her cheek.
Dorothy giggled and sighed. There was then another knock on the door.
"come in!" they both said
immediately the door opened and this time it was the mayor.
"you two settling in well?" he asked.
"yes sir." They said.
"that's good, well, if you need anything, help yourselves." He said.
"thank you." Dorothy said.
"well, I'll leave you two alone now, I would recommend the earplugs by the way." He said stepping out of the room shutting the door behind him.
Alex smiled and plopped down next to dorothy. As the house fell relatively silent, all that could be heard was the echoing of the grindstone in the basement as the mayor continued to sharpen the axe.
"can you make a door out of a whole tree?" dorothy finally asked
"hmm? Oh, yea, I could make a couple and he does bring back the whole tree, I'll make a spare as well, and before you ask dear, no I don't inspect another invasion to nearly snap the door in two." Alex said.
Dorothy smiled and yawned, before snuggling up to alex and falling asleep.
