Disclaimer, the usual.
Dorothy awoke early the next morning to find herself alone in the bedroom. She got up and stretched before changing into another outfit, a light blue t-shirt with a jean dress, Madeline hadn't given her much variety much to Dorothy's surprise. She didn't think she'd have to go very far to find alex so she left the slippers and the scepter in their place as she left the room. As she quietly walked down the stairs she found alex working on the spare door. Having finishing putting up the new one.
"Early start?" she whispered causing him to jump.
"Dorothy don't do that!" he whispered sternly
Dorothy giggled and walked over to him, kissing him on the cheek.
"sorry." She whispered.
"anyways, now that that's out of the way, yes, I was getting an early start, I should have the spare finished by lunch." He said.
"that's good." She said.
Suddenly the sound of crashing and banging started upstairs and a pot rolled down the stairs quite loudly.
"I swear, it must be his goal to make as much noise as possible." Alex sighed before returning to his work.
Dorothy shook her head and walking over to the pot that had rolled down the stairs. Picking it up, she found it was a large soup tureen.
"I'm going to bring this back upstairs, I'll be back in a few." Dorothy said.
"don't take too long." He said.
Dorothy smiled and headed upstairs. When she got to the top of the steps she found Helen, the mayor, Harold, and Beatrice all up and about. Beatrice was trying to make something for everyone to eat. And Helen had Harold on her shoulders.
"oh, so you are awake." Helen said.
"yep, alex is already working on the spare door." Dorothy said setting the tureen on the nearby table.
At that moment, Hawkeye came down from the watch tower.
"storm clouds rolling in from the east, can smell a heavy downpour coming, not going to be any thunder or lightning, just rain." Hawkeye said.
"thank you, Hawkeye." Helen said.
"Some rain will do some good, this part of Oz hasn't seen a good bit of rain in a while." Beatrice said warming some bread over the stove.
"Hey dorothy!?" Came Alex's shouting voice.
"yea!?" she shouted back
"Any chance you could grab me some toast or something!?" he shouted.
"Beatrice?" dorothy asked.
"if you give me a few minutes." Beatrice said.
"what's he doing down there he finished the door, didn't he?" Hawkeye asked.
"yes, he's been making a spare, so that in the event the new one either wears out or gets busted down or something you have an easy replacement." Dorothy said walking into the kitchen.
"I see, well, that's a decent plan." Hawkeye replied.
"Hawkeye, any breakfast requests?" Beatrice asked.
"whatever you can whip together, I'm going back up to keep an eye on that storm." He replied.
Beatrice looked at him and nodded. She then smiled and returned to cooking as he quickly ascended the steps. A few minutes later she handed dorothy a plate of about 20 pieces of toast and gave her a jar of butter. Thanking her she walked downstairs and set it on the desk.
"thanks." He said taking a piece and eating it.
"when will you have, this door done?" Dorothy asked.
"oh, before lunchtime barring any distractions." Alex said.
"I see, well shall I leave you alone then?" dorothy asked.
"please don't, I still need something to keep my mind off Harold's constant noise making." Alex said.
Dorothy smiled and took two pieces of toast for herself. the mayor came down with a pitcher of milk and some glasses for them after about 5 minutes. They thanked him and then continued to sit there in silence as they ate. After about 20 minutes, they had finished the toast and less than half the pitcher of milk between them.
"there's rain on its way, Hawkeye said there's storm coming, a nice downpour coming from the east." Dorothy said.
"well, the land out there is rather dry, it will do it some good, and munchkin land is mostly farmland, isn't it?" alex asked.
"well, that's true." Dorothy said.
"anyways, I kinda figured it might rain, it's rather humid today." Alex said.
"I see." Dorothy said sighing.
"anyways, is there anything you wanna talk about?" Alex asked curiously.
"you mean apart from the weather?" dorothy asked.
"yep." Alex said as he continued his work.
"not really, I'm just trying to keep things moving so I don't get bored." Dorothy said.
Suddenly the crashing noised started again from upstairs causing both of them to jump.
"I'm beginning to get curious as to how he manages to always find stuff to make noise with, and how all the cookware and dining ware aren't all completely ruined." Alex said.
"magic I'd imagine, either that or all the stuff is enchanted or something." Dorothy said.
"not likely, remember the first time we came here?" Alex asked.
"mostly, why?" dorothy asked.
"well when our arrival was announced we heard the sound of a plate breaking, because the mayor had dropped it." Alex said.
"oh, oh yes, I remember that, a few moments later he came down the stairs looking, well, rather untidy for lack of a better term." Dorothy said.
"yep." Alex replied.
Meanwhile in emerald city
"Hey Ozma?" trot asked as she, Betsy, Aislynn and Ozma all walked into the chambers.
"yes trot?" Ozma asked.
"what do you wanna do today?" trot asked.
"good question, I was going to ask you girls if you had any ideas." Ozma said.
"we could go outside?" Betsy suggested.
"that'd be good for a while but there's going to be rain later today I can feel it." She said.
"those dark clouds you can see on the horizon are kinda of a bit of a sign." Aislynn said pointing to the window.
"and there's that." Ozma said.
"we could play hide and seek around the palace?" Betsy suggested.
"oh, I like that idea, but let's save if when it actually starts raining." Ozma said.
"what are you girls planning?" Glinda asked as she walked in.
"schedule, of things we can do today, I wanna try to spend some time outside before the rain gets here." Ozma said.
"oh." Glinda said.
"I suggested hide and seek around the palace." Betsy said.
"not a bad idea, why don't you girls ask ellie and the other girls later after their planning session?" Glinda asked smiling.
"I was going to say that." Aislynn said.
"sure, you were kiddo, sure you were." Scarecrow said sticking his head out from his workshop.
"Oh, scarecrow, hi, tuning up the rainbow mover?" Aislynn asked.
"you got it ace." Scarecrow said.
"can I watch?" Aislynn asked.
"Glinda?" scarecrow asked.
"are there any odds of anything exploding and injuring her?" Glinda asked
"not likely, it's just a tune-up." Scarecrow said.
"hmm, I guess it's okay." Glinda said.
"thanks." Aislynn said before running into the workshop.
"she really likes him, doesn't she?" Trot asked.
"yep." Ozma said.
"she doesn't do much to hide it." Glinda said.
"I wish we could go to the village, it's too quiet here without dorothy around, I mean, look, even toto and pockets are becoming lazy." Ozma said pointing to the corner they were sleeping in.
"awe, they look so cute." Trot said.
"cute yes, but it's always rather depressing to see them like this." Glinda said walking over to them.
"they find the company nice, but after a while they start missing her." Madeline said walking into the room.
"sounds about right." Ozma said.
Glinda sighed and knelt down next to them. She couldn't stand to see them like this. But there was nothing she could do about it. however, her gave then turned to the workshop. At first her thoughts turned to trying to use the rainbow mover to get to the village. But she shook this off knowing it was too risky.
"scissors beats paper." Betsy sighed.
Glinda turned to find trot and Betsy engaged in a game of Rock Paper Scissors. She smiled and shook her head before getting up and leaving the chambers.
Later, on mount munch.
At the cottage of lady Cassandra, this just happened to be a day where her sister, Lady Angela, was visiting. In the corner by the fireplace, was the large bird. He was half asleep as there was no conversation. Theodora was reading a spell book while both lady Angela and lady Cassandra were working on some embroidery, and Eveline was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace.
"Tiberius?" Lady Angela asked.
"yes Madame?" he asked in a raspy voice
"how strong are you now? The wing still stiff?" Angela asked now looking up from her embroidery.
"still stiff, but I went out for a flight round the mountain, but I feel that when the wind pushed me into the mountain, that this is where it wanted to me to be, and I don't argue with fate." Tiberius said.
"besides, he likes the company." Theodora said.
"thank you, cousin, I realize that." Angela said.
"could you carry someone while flying?" Eveline asked.
"I've picked up a few cows that have wandered from their pasture before, so I imagine so, I would never risk it with a person though." Tiberius said.
"I see." She replied.
Cassandra smiled and set her embroidery down. She snapped her fingers and a tea tray slowly flew into the room with a kettle of tea and four cups. As well as a sugar bowl and a small pitcher of cream. Pouring a cup for all of them.
"Are you sure you don't like tea?" She asked looking over to Tiberius.
"Quite sure madam, but again thank you for offering." He replied.
"suit yourself." She said snapping her fingers again.
This time a large pot of cold water flew into the room and rested itself in front of the large bird.
"thank you." He said dipping his beak into the water.
"it's no trouble." Cassandra said.
"sister dear, there's one question I've been meaning to ask you for a while now, and the fact that Glinda sent you these beautiful flowers reminded me of it." Angela said
"you wanted to know, if Locasta and Glinda would ever be ready to finally take on me and fully complete their training." Cassandra said.
"yes." Angela replied.
"wait, Locasta and Glinda haven't finished their training yet?" Theodora asked.
"not technically, no, because Cassandra never finished teaching them before the accident and she is their original instructor, they are not full witches in a sense." Angela said.
"but don't they both have to duel each other first?" Theodora asked.
"one of their petty arguments over the wedding plans will lead to one I'm sure sister dear." Cassandra said.
They all shared a chuckle at this before Angela got up and walked over to the fireplace. She waved her hand over the fire and picked up a ball of fire out of it. walking back over to the sofa she sat back down next to her sister and had the fireball levitate. Immediately it began to grown the image of dorothy watching alex finish his work appeared.
"Seems to be keeping herself amused." Cassandra said.
"where are they anyways?" Theodora asked.
"the village, it's a strange place, all animals that enter have to take a form similar to that of our own." Angela said.
"oh, that's, um, interesting to say the least." Theodora said.
"indeed." Angela said closing her hands around the fire causing it to shrink and go out.
Theodora sighed and set down her spell book. Snapping her fingers a few times she managed to conjure up a small flame. She held it in the palm of her hand for a few seconds before closing it and snuffing the flame. She knew she needed more practice, her powers hadn't been working well since her sister's destruction.
"you know, most people have problems controlling their powers when they're grieving, or upset, mine just seem to get weaker." Theodora said.
"you're still not used to be outside your sister's control, you'll get the hang of it again, in time." Angela said.
"for the sake of things, I hope you're right." Theodora said sighing.
"there's a storm on the air." Tiberius said.
Suddenly the sound of rain against the window was heard. Theodora sighed and got up, walking over to the window she looked out. It was just starting to rain.
"well, looks like I won't be practicing outside today." She said.
"this rain will last of a good long while I expect, seeing as it's been a while since it last rained." Angela said.
"I imagine so." Tiberius said before taking another drink of water
"well, this is going bug me, how can Locasta and Glinda take on the title of witches if they haven't completed their training." Eveline asked.
"they built up their powers on their own time, they took on the titles when the wizard came and they've stuck ever since, though, even one with very little training, such as yourself could technically qualify as a witch." Cassandra said.
"oh." Was all she managed to say.
Meanwhile back at the village.
Alex had finished the spare door and had put varnish on it just as the rain was beginning to fall. By the time, he and the mayor had gotten it into the cellar, it had already begun downpouring. Hawkeye had come down from the watch tower around the same time, now completely soaked. Everyone shared a laugh at this. Everyone except Beatrice that is, who seemed a tad frustrated that now she would have to mop. Dorothy was keeping Harold relatively amused and out of the way by telling him the stories of her many adventures. As alex came and joined her on the sofa, she smiled and kissed him causing Harold to gag. When Hawkeye eventually emerged from his room, down dry as a bone, he took the mop from Beatrice and finished the work himself. When it was done, they both joined the mayor and Helen in the kitchen, they were all happy that Harold was finally being quiet.
"it was around that time that I found that the scepter really was something I was going to have to get used to." Dorothy said causing alex to chuckle.
Dorothy glared at him, causing him to shrink back.
"what?" he asked.
"what's so funny?" dorothy asked.
"Nothing." He replied.
"then why did you chuckle?" she asked.
"Did I?" he asked in response.
"you did." Harold said.
"judge and jury finds the defendant guilty as charged." Dorothy said.
"well, if you really want to know, it's because you said that having the scepter was something you were you going to have to get used to, but you're still not used to it, you barely feel comfortable carrying it with you." Alex said.
"oh, well, yea, that's true, but I have my reasons." Dorothy said.
"and you'll tell me these, when?" alex asked.
"oh hush, anyways, so, there I was scepter in hand, face to face with the jester, on a tower, everything beginning to basically ready to collapse beneath us, when he did something I didn't expect, and as I'm sure you were already aware, thank was to apologize and ask my forgiveness." Dorothy said.
"I don't think there's anyone in Oz who didn't see the memory projection, Roquat came by that day smiling, now that the memory was known." Harold said.
"well, he did make the crystal that projected it." dorothy said.
"hm, not surprised." Harold said.
"anyways, a few moments later, Rose Garrison appeared, she forgave him, as did I, and I made what I did something I still hold on my conscience even though, in everyone forgiving him, he got a second chance." Dorothy said sighing.
With a sigh, they all sat there in silence, eventually Helen brought over a plate of sandwiches for them, which they ate. The cycle of storytelling went on for a few more hours before the mayor finished his second lunch and dinner being served. Tonight's dinner happened to be onions, peppers, and potatoes.
"it's delicious Beatrice, a tour de force." Alex said.
"huh?" the others asked looking at him
"a great achievement." He replied.
"oh." They all said nodding.
"Beatrice, it's a beautiful meal." Hawkeye said.
"well, we're all agreed on that." Dorothy said.
"here, here." Harold said with his mouth half full.
"Harold don't talk with your mouth full." Helen said.
"sorry." He said swallowing.
They spent the rest of the dinner making idle conversation, and in silence when they ran out of things to say. After Harold, had gone to bed, dorothy and alex helped Helen, the mayor and Beatrice clean everything up. While the mayor, and Hawkeye went to the cellar to make sure it wasn't leaking anywhere
"I can't thank you enough for keeping Harold occupied earlier." Helen said.
"it's no trouble, you know, we all have stories we like to tell on rainy days." Dorothy said wiping down the table.
"dorothy, I'm serious, even I can't keep him engaged for more than five minutes at the time, you're a miracle worker, I really owe you one for that, it's been so long since I've had a moment of peace." Helen said.
"dorothy seems to have her charms with people, everyone she meets is touched by her in one way or another." Alex said.
"alex is my prime example." Dorothy said.
"yes, because I was at one point one of the worst apples of the bunch, had my own gang, it was rather large, loved mischief and pranking, but I had my soft side too, not only am I a skilled carpenter, but I'm a dancer as well." Alex said.
"oh, how fascinating." Helen said pulling out a chair and sitting down to listen.
"yes, I thought it was too, actually, alex and I have a history, starting at around my first week of school, around that time I was labeled the crybaby, and he didn't help much, for the longest time, I couldn't stand him, or at least I thought I couldn't." Dorothy said.
"sometimes the person you fall in love is the person you believe least likely." Helen said.
"or you could call it fate and destiny." Alex said.
"that works too." Helen said.
They all shared a chuckle as they finished their work. Eventually they all fell silent, the only sounds being that of the rain against the windows.
