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Early the next morning dorothy found herself waking up just as the sun was starting to rise. Looking around she found that toto and pockets were still asleep at the foot of the bed and alex was nowhere to be found. She knew he'd be around in a few minutes and that he most likely went to his room to get something, but she still found it odd that he had been up before she was. However, her thoughts were interrupted by Ozma peeking into the room.

"oh, you're awake." Ozma said in a tone of surprise.

"I'm surprised you're awake, come in, I could use the company." Dorothy said smiling.

Ozma smiled and walked over to the bed. plopping down upon the bed and hugging dorothy.

"did you sleep well?" Ozma asked.

"as well as I'm normally able too, I think those two went to sleep late, because me getting up is typically enough to wake them up." Dorothy said stretching.

"I imagine so, I was up pretty late myself, I heard them going passed my door shortly before going to sleep" Ozma said looking at the two of them

"how naughty of them." Alex said walking into the room carrying his sword.

"where were you?" dorothy asked.

"my room, had to get my sword." Alex replied holding it up.

"why?" both dorothy and Ozma asked curiously.

"I really don't like traveling without it." alex said sighing.

"ah, yes you would make a good soldier." Ozma said smiling.

"I'm under the impression Alyssa wants to recruit him into Glinda's army." Dorothy said getting up and kissing his cheek.

"how would that work? I thought Glinda's army was all girls?" Ozma asked curiously

"I don't know" alex said shrugging

"I don't want to think about it." dorothy said wrapping her arms around him

"so, when are you two heading to Winkie country?" Ozma asked curiously.

"probably after breakfast." Dorothy replied

"do you think Glinda would allow me to go with you?" Ozma asked with a bit of hope

"maybe, I mean it's not like we'll be exploring the entirety of Winkie country." Dorothy said smiling before heading to her closet.

When she got into the closet she immediately changed out of her nightgown and into a white short-sleeved short and her jean dress. She picked up the slippers and left the closet to find alex and Ozma tossing a small red ball, slightly larger than the one ellie kept with her. however, her thoughts were broken when the ball suddenly came to her and she caught it

"oh, sorry, nice catch." Alex said.

"thanks, what were you two doing?" dorothy asked.

"Ozma conjured it up so we started tossing it back and forth to see how fast we could go." Alex said walking over to her.

"sounds like fun." Dorothy said rolling her eyes.

"well, anyways I guess we can head to the chambers now and wait for the others?" Ozma suggested.

"may as well, can't think of anything better to do, I'm surprised we haven't managed to wake those two up." Ozma said.

"so am I, they normally don't sleep this deep." Dorothy said walking back over to the bed and placing a hand on toto.

Immediately he sprang up and started barking quite loudly causing Pockets to wake up and jump off the bed in surprise. Until toto realized what was going on and calmed down.

"what's going on?" Pockets asked sleepily.

"you two were rather deeply asleep, just wanted to make sure you two were alright." Dorothy said.

"we got in rather late." Toto said with a yawn

"So, I take it you two won't be coming with us to Winkie country?" Dorothy asked.

"depends, when are you going?" Pockets jumping onto the bed and curling up again.

"we were thinking about going after breakfast." Dorothy said scratching pockets behind the ear

"mmm, we'll try to make it." pockets said.

"any idea what they're saying?" Ozma whispered to alex

"no, dorothy is the one who talks to animals, I can't, I just kinda stand here and listen to her and try to put it together myself before she tells me." Alex whispered back.

"and you also pretend I can't hear you." Dorothy said walking back over to them.

"so, what's up with them?" Alex asked

"they got here quite late, they'll try to come with us, but it doesn't seem likely." Dorothy said sighing.

"ah, well, I'm sure this won't be the only trip we take to Winkie country, if they don't manage to make it on this trip I'm sure they'll be able to come on the next." Alex said, his stomach making an audible growl.

"hmm, maybe we should go straight to the kitchens and see what Brianna is making." Ozma suggested.

Everyone nodded and quietly left the room.

"so, Winkie country." Alex said.

"well, it definitely looks beautiful through the crystal ball, but I want to experience it first-hand." Ozma said smiling.

"I was over there the other day actually, it really is beautiful." Came Madeline's voice from behind them causing them to jump.

"Maddie, is there a reason you insist on appearing behind us?" Dorothy asked turning around to look at her

"nope." Madeline said smiling

Dorothy sighed and rolled her eyes.

"what were you even doing in Winkie country anyways?" alex asked curiously.

"I wanted to get some yellow flowers for a hat I was making, and I got impatient waiting for you guys to make a trip of there" Madeline said.

"oh." Was all alex could say in response

"yep, it came out nicely, I'll show you it later." Madeline said as they got to the chambers.

"oh good, there you are Mads." Jack said walking up to them

"what? Did you think I just ran off on a whim?" Madeline asked.

"considering yesterday none of us could find you for some time…" but that was as far as he got before he decided to cut himself.

"I still have to ask, what were you doing yesterday?" Ozma asked curiously

"well, I didn't run off on a whim, I'll start there." Madeline said smiling again.

"so, you did have a reason?" dorothy asked.

"Yep, but that's a story for another day." Madeline conjuring up a cup of tea.

"oh, good, you guys are awake." Came Glinda's voice as she and Brianna came into the chambers.

"oh, Glinda, good morning." Dorothy said.

"Good morning, how long have you guys been up?" Glinda asked arching an eye brow and smiling.

"um, well, I've personally been up for the last hour, dorothy and Ozma, maybe 20 minutes." Alex said looking at his pocket watch.

"Ah, well, we've been up for the last 2 hours, I've been helping Brianna make a rather large batch of sweet rolls." Glinda said smiling.

"why?" dorothy asked curiously.

"well the sweet rolls were my idea, I don't know why Glinda insisted on helping, but it made me make a note that I need to order more cinnamon-sugar mix from candy county." Brianna said.

"oh." Was all they could say in response.

"there are some ready now if you guys want some." Brianna said.

Everyone shared a glance and shrugged before going to the banquet hall. It was then that they found that Glinda hadn't been joking when she said they had made a rather large batch of sweet rolls. There were three, tri-tiered stacks of sweet rolls on the large banquet table. Between dorothy, alex, Madeline and jack, they had two each, eventually everyone was awake and in the banquet hall. Wiser was limited to 20 until everyone else had eaten their fill.

"so, dorothy, would you prefer a picnic lunch, or are you not planning on staying in Winkie country for longer than a couple of hours?" Brianna asked curiously

"erm, why not a picnic lunch?" Dorothy said smiling

"okay, I'll go set it up now, is there anything special you, alex, or Ozma would like?" Brianna asked.

"I don't know about alex, or Ozma for that matter, but I'm fine with whatever you pack, but I'm not sure Glinda will allow Ozma to even leave the palace." Dorothy said.

"oh, she expects Ozma to go, that came up earlier." Brianna said

Dorothy said nothing, she simply smiled and nodded before going back over to alex and Ozma.

"so?" alex asked.

"we're bringing a picnic lunch, and apparently its fine for Ozma to come with us." Dorothy said.

"yea, I already cleared that with Glinda, I think she wants to get us out of the city so that she and Locasta can argue over the wedding stuff without any of us getting caught in the crossfire." Ozma said sighing.

"is that your theory? I thought Glinda was just finally letting you out of the confines of the palace." Alex asked.

"that could also be it." Ozma said smiling

"not very likely though, she'll be watching us in the crystal ball like she was a hawk stalking its prey." Dorothy said.

"better bring a jacket with you then, or at least a sweater, or she might ground you." Alex said with a chuckle.

Dorothy couldn't help but giggle at this remark.

"I guess you're right though, it might be chilly out there today, I mean, it was the other night, but I wonder what has Glinda in such a cheery mood today?" dorothy asked.

"maybe it has to do with the fact that castle west is finally finished?" Madeline said walking up to them,

"what does that have to do with anything?" the three of them asked curiously.

"not much, but it would be a treat if the queen and the princess were both there to look at it at the same time, I mean, dorothy, the castle belongs to you, as does castle East, the munchkin city mansion." Madeline said.

"we should really check that place out at some point." Alex said.

"I know, I know, maybe we'll do that for one of the holiday breaks" dorothy said sighing.

"oh, by the way, it's a bit chilly out this morning, I'd suggest that you bring a jacket" Madeline suggested with a smile.