Disclaimer, the usual.

The next morning Dorothy awoke feeling that something was off, looking at the clock on her dresser however confirmed these suspicions, it was nearly nine o'clock, long past time where she should have been at school. However, she also noticed one of Madeline's calling cards next to it as well. Taking a deep breath, she climbed out of bed and quickly changed into her usual outfit. She looked around once she was dressed and noticed toto and pockets were no where to be found. Grabbing her satchel from the bedpost and slinging it over her shoulder, and then grabbing the scepter, she left her room. The house was completely quiet and still. It didn't seem like anyone was there at all. However, when she got to the dining room, she found Madeline, sitting at the table with a cup of tea.

"your aunt forbade me from waking you, or doing anything that would accomplish the same affect, I may be crazy but I'm not crazy enough to cross her." Madeline said taking a loud sip from her cup.

"that's not what I was going to ask you about." dorothy said.

"then I'll continue with this, your school is in desperate need of repairs, last night, several pipes burst, flooding a good majority of the school, library is fine though, ace mentioned that, though that is unusual, its not the first time its happened like that." Madeline said.

"okay, tell me you had nothing to do with it." Dorothy said.

"oh dorothy, I'm hurt that you'd even suggest such a thing." Madeline said trying to sound as over dramatic as possible.

"Maddie, I know you, I may not know what goes through that head of yours that isn't my thoughts or feelings, but I know you well enough to know that its something you would try." Dorothy said.

"yes, and no, I had nothing to do with it, alex was there earlier, I checked up on him, and healed his injuries, but the water In some places is red with rust, and, now that I think about it, I have no idea why he went there in the first place, but Glinda allowed me to take matters into my own hands for the most part." Madeline said with a shrug.

"so, long story short, school is cancelled, everyone is already at the palace?" Dorothy asked.

"almost everyone, your aunt and uncle still want to wait until this afternoon before having me bring the triplets to the city, right now they're in town, getting something, I didn't ask what." Madeline said.

"why did they just leave the triplets under your watchful eye then?" Dorothy asked, though in the back of her mind she knew the reasons.

"well, one, I don't think the fully trust me, and two, when you got up they'd be alone because I have orders to bring you to the city now that you're awake." Madeline said taking another sip from her cup.

Dorothy sighed and checked her satchel, making sure the slippers were still in there, once this was done she walked over to the door and slid her flats on. She then turned to face Madeline who was now standing and ready to go. She walked over to her and took her hand. Immediately dorothy felt the familiar sensation of lurching forward, she tightened her grip on the scepter and on Madeline's hand. Closing her eyes, but it didn't help with the dizziness. A moment later she felt her feet contact solid ground. Madeline released her hand and dorothy found herself falling into Alex's arms.

"I don't think either of us will get used to that." He said smiling.

"I honestly doubt it." Dorothy said as she got her bearings.

They were in the chambers. It was herself, Madeline and alex, she found it odd that Ozma was nowhere to be seen.

"Ozma is at the library, the professor is here, and Glinda wouldn't let her skip her lessons." Madeline said as they heard whistling wind.

"Breezy today." Alex said looking over to the windows.

"yes, had to place a spell over the library so Ozma wouldn't find it distracting, alex, have you been waiting in here the entire time? I left you guys in Dorothy's room if I remember correctly." Madeline asked curiously.

"Ellie is assisting Glinda, ace went somewhere with scarecrow, Betsy went with Trot to her room, donna and Kelly are in the courtyard, I came here figuring you'd probably wind up here." Alex said.

"Clever." Madeline said rolling her eyes

"I thought so." Alex said with a sly grin.

"oh, dorothy a letter arrived for you and Ozma yesterday, yours is on your desk, I recognize the seal, but I can't recall from where, I have to cross reference it with my books." Madeline said.

"but its from somewhere in Oz, correct?" alex asked curiously.

"I'm sure, Ozma said she knew who the letter was from but didn't want to open hers without dorothy around, she seemed afraid of it." Madeline said shrugging.

"I'm slightly bothered by the fact that its not something you recognize off the top of your head." dorothy said looking at her.

"dorothy, I've studied a lot over my life so far, but even I have limits, I can't remember everything, its why I keep notes." Madeline said

"almost makes you seem normal." Alex said causing dorothy to glare at him.

"then I guess I'm not trying hard enough." She said with a chuckle as she walked out of the chambers.

Once the two of them were alone dorothy smiled and let go of the scepter allowing it to float next to her. taking Alex's hands in her own they both raised their arms and moved closer together until their elbows were touching.

"so, how's the shoulder?" she asked curiously.

"better now, thanks to Madeline, so's the head." Alex said smiling.

"ill have to thank her when I get a chance." Dorothy said smiling back.

"she already knows how thankful you are." He replied.

"so, did you get a look at the letter?" dorothy asked curiously

"I saw the envelope, it was addressed to you, so I didn't open it." alex sad.

"I'm sure you wanted to though." She said smiling teasingly.

"oh of course, you know me dear, but why deny you the pleasure, according to Madeline, the courier who delivered it seemed quite insistent that it get delivered directly to you, and that no one else was to read it before you." Alex said teasingly.

"well, then as princess I guess I have to take initiative and get right onto reading it." Dorothy said with a sigh.

"well, you don't have to now, I'm sure it's just someone looking for a favor." Alex said.

"alex, they were sent to Ozma and myself, they must think its quite important a matter otherwise they'd probably need not have bothered writing a letter." Dorothy said.

"unless they aren't allowed in the city, again they sent a courier." Alex said

"that doesn't seem likely, everyone's allowed in the city." Dorothy said sighing.

"that's not exactly the news, child." Came the voice of lady Cassandra from the back of the room.

"oh, lady Cassandra, how long have you been standing there?" dorothy asked letting go of Alex's hands and lowering her arms.

"long enough, but your statement is quite inaccurate, while the city is accepting of most people, there are some factions that have not been allowed within the city for a long time, though I cannot imagine why any of them would be sending you and the queen a letter." Cassandra said hobbling over to them.

"maybe, like alex suggested, they would like a favor, and thought it would be good to appeal to both Ozma and I?" dorothy said.

"I'd doubt it, but I have to go assist Locasta in freeing her wand." Lady Cassandra said.

"Oh good, you're both here, lady Cassandra, can you help Locasta, I just got a message from chuck saying a letter was delivered to my castle, I should go and look at it." Glinda said coming into the chambers.

"odd, dorothy and Ozma got letters yesterday as well." Alex said

"I know, I was here when the courier arrived, didn't get a good look at the seal on it, but Ozma seems troubled by it." Glinda said as Locasta came in followed by her wand which was floating behind her in a crimson bubble.

"hmm, crimson, were you both angry at the time this happened?" Cassandra asked curiously addressing the two

"yes, unusually so, for either of us" Locasta said.

"and none of your ways have worked at dispelling it?" she asked turning to Glinda.

"that is correct." Glinda sighed.

"I think I see the problem here then." Cassandra said chuckling.

"well, could you please enlighten us as to what the solution is?" Glinda asked.

"the problem is, that its not one of Glinda's bubbles." Cassandra said causing all four of them to look at her rather confused.

"but that's Glinda's thing, I've never conjured a bubble before." Locasta said in disbelief.

"snap your fingers if you don't believe me." Cassandra said placing both hands on her staff.

Locasta looked at Cassandra quizzically before trying it, the moment they heard the snapping sound the bubble burst and the wand clattered to the floor.

"when one is upset, one's magic will more than likely act up, you two must have been in quite the argument for that to conjure on its own, now if that is all, I shall make my way to the kitchen, I could do with a cup of tea." Cassandra said pushing between alex and dorothy and making her way around Glinda and Locasta as she left the chamber.

"Glinda, you don't think the letter you got will be the same one Ozma and I have gotten, do you?" dorothy asked curiously.

"I honestly can't say, but that's also a question for Locasta as well, as she has to return to her castle to retrieve one, the odds are quite likely." Glinda said with a sigh.

Locasta said nothing she simply sighed and picked up her wand. She waved it and vanished.

"dorothy, in the few minutes that we'll be gone, you're in charge." Glinda said before she vanished as well.

Dorothy and alex shared a glance before sighing.

"I guess we should go check out the letter then." Dorothy said grabbing the scepter.

"may as well, not like It'll do any harm." Alex said taking her hand.

With that the two of them left the chamber.

so, yes, I am back, and I'm putting this little note here to pose the question, what do you think the contents of the letters will be? And why did Glinda and Locasta get sent one as well? Find out in the next chapter