Disclaimer, you know.

After lunch, Madeline found herself sitting outside the chambers, with dorothy and alex as Glinda looked over Alex's father along with lady Cassandra. Alex was rather anxious, but he didn't make it apparent.

"do you think they'll have found something?" Madeline asked turning her attention to dorothy.

"Maddie, you know I'm not getting my hopes up, Glinda barely approves of the use of magic to heal any physical damages I've gotten over the years." Dorothy said.

"oh, I know, healing magic is rather draining, however, I've slowly conditioned myself for moderate spells, healing broken wrists, and stuff." Madeline said

"but what about eyes?" Alex asked.

"If caught early enough, you can slow down the affects but you can't stop them entirely." Madeline said.

Alex sighed and sat down against the wall.

"so, chances are slim, is that what I'm supposed to understand?" alex asked sighing.

"well, I wouldn't say that, you never know." Madeline said conjuring up a cup of tea.

"not very reassuring." Alex said slumping over.

"sorry." Madeline said taking a loud sip from her cup.

"oh, dorothy, I didn't know you were back, waiting for news on Alex's father?" Ellie asked walking up to them.

"yes, any chance you can look in on them? Glinda put a spell on the door to keep us from listening in." alex asked.

Ellie nodded and closed her eyes, but immediately staggered and leaned against the wall.

"shutting you out?" Madeline asked.

Ellie said nothing, she simply nodded. Blinking several times to clear her vision.

"you all right?" dorothy asked worriedly.

"yes, I'm fine, alex, I'm sorry I couldn't help." she said.

"it's all right, thank you for putting in the effort." Alex sighed.

"well, I'm going back to Brianna's ice cream parlor, any of you want anything?" ellie asked

"vanilla with indigo daisies?" Madeline asked.

"is that even a legitimate request?" ellie asked.

"no, I just wanted to see if you'd actually see it as a request." Madeline said.

"where would you even get indigo daisies?" dorothy asked.

"Indigo village on the blue plains, only place they grow, pretty sure It's something in the soil, they actually do taste good though, and they have curative and or medicinal properties." Madeline said.

"yes, well I should be heading off to the ice cream parlor, I'll see if I can get you two some peach ice cream to share." Ellie said turning to alex and dorothy.

"you don't have to do that ellie." Dorothy said.

"I know, but I have a feeling you're going to want some, it's only getting hotter around here." she said.

"well, if you can get some, it would be much appreciated." Alex said trying to sound something other than anxious.

Ellie nodded before walking off. Dorothy sighed and turned to alex. she knew he was worried, but she wasn't sure how to help him get his mind off it. however, her thoughts were broken by Aislynn coming up to her with a small stack of books tucked under her arm.

"Hey, dorothy, could I take Betsy and trot up in the balloon at some point?" Aislynn asked

"will it even fly in the summer?" Madeline asked.

"it can be difficult to get it off the ground during the day, but in the evenings, it can go well, at least that's what I've learned from personal experience." Aislynn said.

"not today ace, it's far too hot to even try to drag it out of storage." Scarecrow said walking by.

"thank you, Scarecrow, where's tin man and lion?" Dorothy said.

"tin man, is trying to cool down, his body is rather hot, lion is keeping him company, oh and alex, I'm sorry about your father, I hope Glinda and Cassandra can find a solution." Scarecrow said.

"I hope so too." Alex said with a sigh,

Scarecrow said nothing further, he simply looked at dorothy, and nodded before walking off. Dorothy moved closer to alex and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"well, I'm going to go make myself a nice hot cup of tea, either of you want some?" Madeline asked getting up and looking at her watch.

"are you mad!? In this heat?" alex asked.

"Mad, a little, I thought that was a bit obvious, anyways, I can make it over ice of you like, anyways, I'll be back in maybe 10 minutes, it doesn't take long for me to make tea." She said walking off.

"you know, Madeline really bothers me sometimes." Aislynn said watching as she walked away.

"in the disturbing sort of way, I assume?" dorothy asked

"rather." Aislynn replied.

"I see, by the way, what are those books you've got with you?" dorothy asked.

"books on ballooning I was bringing them to my room to help explain things to Betsy and trot." Aislynn said.

"well, don't let us keep you, did you leave them in your room?" alex asked.

"with eve, toto, and pockets to keep them company." Aislynn said.

"ace, really?" dorothy asked pushing herself up into a proper sitting position

"well, even if they did wander off it's not that hard to find one's way around, I told them to just follow the paintings." Aislynn said smiling.

"why?" dorothy and alex asked in unison.

"well surely you've noticed that only the parts of the palace with occupied room have paintings on the walls? And that the other hallways have unique vases?" Aislynn asked.

"ace, I've never really taken it into account, it's interesting though, I'll look for it the next time I'm exploring." Dorothy said.

Aislynn said nothing, she simply chuckled before walking around to Alex's side. Smiling, she set down her books and hugged him tight before picking the books back up, and heading on her way. Alex smiled and looked at dorothy before kissing her on the cheek. dorothy smiled and blushed. However, before either of them could say another word to each other, Madeline emerged with a tray with two glasses of iced tea and one china cup of regular tea. Handing a glass to each of them she smiled and took her seat on the floor.

"so, I didn't miss much." She said taking a sip of her own tea.

"no, but I'm beginning to get anxious." alex said taking a gulp of iced tea.

"only now you're starting?" Madeline asked looking at him with one eyebrow raised

"Maddie!" dorothy said sternly

"sorry, I was just asking the question." Madeline said taking a loud sip of tea

Dorothy sighed before setting her iced tea down on the floor next to her. looking at alex, she found he had already finished his.

"you already finished?" Dorothy asked.

"yes, um, I tend to drink a lot of water or any related substances when I get incredibly anxious, whenever I have the chance." Alex said.

"he went through several pitchers of ice water the last time you were unconscious in the hospital wing." Madeline said sipping her tea loudly.

"is there any more tea that I can have?" Alex asked turning to look at Madeline.

Dorothy shook her head and picked up her glass, finally taking a sip of the tea. It was cool, a tad bitter, but mostly minty. It took her a moment to register that it was made from the mint tea that the china princess and Marshall mallow provided from candy county. A moment later however the door to the chambers opened and lady Cassandra hobbled out with Glinda leaning against her for support. Dorothy, alex, and Madeline immediately got to their feet to assist.

"we've managed to temporarily restore his vision, it took a very powerful healing spell, your father is asleep, he should be fine when he wakes." Cassandra said

"Glinda wouldn't let you cast the spell yourself, would she?" Madeline asked setting her tea cup on a nearby table

"no, she started casting it herself before I could even lift my hand to do anything, the spell shouldn't have drained her as much as it has, and it was worrying." Cassandra said.

"she was shutting ellie out as well, blocking the connection." Madeline replied

"ah, yes, that would be a culprit, now could you and dorothy bring Glinda to her sleeping chamber there is something I would like to discuss with the boy alone." Cassandra said.

Dorothy nodded and set her glass down next to Madeline's tea cup before kissing Alex's cheek and then assisting Madeline with Glinda. Once they were out of sight, alex turned to Cassandra and sighed.

"so, what it is that you need to talk to me about?" alex asked.