Disclaimer, the usual.

The jester had been up all-night pondering. This wasn't wholly unusual for Rose, she knew her lover wasn't one for sleeping, but this seemed different, he seemed to be worrying, and thinking hard about something. She wanted to question him but figured it would be for the better if she refrained from doing so. The jester wracked his brain with hundreds of thoughts about the meeting the previous day, then the thought occurred to him. He ran out of the bedroom and to the castle library. rose followed swiftly behind and watched as he went into a secret door he had built into the castle shortly after moving in. he had moved a few books from the winter castle, he found a rather old and dusty one.

"Rose, we did recover some of my sister's old things correct? Clothing and what not?" the jester asked.

"locked them in a box in the cellar, just as you asked, why?" Rose asked coming into the room and shutting the movable bookcase.

"because, if they could be summoned back as a semi corporeal forms, they could be brought back completely." The jester said worriedly.

"pre or post conquest boom?" Rose asked.

"with any luck, pre, but, the memories will still be there, any artefacts of theirs that may have survived, anything they could have had any physical contact with could be used to restore them, its ancient magic, forbidden by all accounts, and doing it under the nose of Glinda or as of now, even the tribunal would be near impossible." The jester said.

"what about that wand that dorothy snapped?" rose asked.

"in the cellar, in a small casket, inside a box, inside a tin box, inside an iron box, inside a large chest, with twenty-seven locks for good measure, yes I recovered that or I should say, I had Glinda recover it, she was reluctant to return it to me, but watched as I locked it away and seemed contained with my paranoia." The jester said handed rose the book.

Rose took it and looked it over, it was in ancient language, she could translate a good majority, she knew it was ancient.

"would your sisters try something like that?" Rose asked curiously.

"Nessarose, maybe, Elphaba, it would be so her to have a contingency plan." The jester said rolling his eyes.

"you could have dorothy open the secret passages you mentioned, you can't open them since she was the one who bested both of you, even if unintentional." Rose said worriedly.

"but then if that was their contingency plan I have no way of guaranteeing how they would come back, or what mindset they'd be in." the jester said.

"so, if they came back, and this isn't you just being completely paranoid, it could only be a matter of time before they became hell bent on conquest again." Rose said, her eyes going wide.

"and they would most likely obliterate me, no protection in this world or Dorothy's could keep me safe from their wrath" The jester said.

"doesn't help that they know your real name either." Rose said.

"oh, don't even mention that, if that ever went out into the open I might die of embarrassment." The jester said shivering.

"don't worry the secrets still safe with me, lily and violet don't even know, but that's besides the point, one sister was crushed and then turned to dust in the wind, the other melted away, could one be restored from that?" Rose asked.

"given enough time and preparation, nothing is impossible, just very improbable." The jester said taking another book from the shelf.

"well it makes sense, at least with elphaba, I mean, she kept water in her castle, and she knew her body had become unstable from the dark magic she had been doing, put on top of that the curse of age." Rose said.

"yes, that's another thing, the hourglass she stole, time cursed her for touching it and taking it, it took less than a day after for her and my sister to disappear for a time and they came back, powerful and hell bent on taking over, no one seemed to care who either of them were, or whom they had been, they just seemed focused on the fact that two women bent on taking over just sort of appeared out of nowhere." The jester said twirling his wand between his fingers.

"she smashed it because dorothy escaped its power and wasn't able to kill her." Rose said.

"Yes, and now its returned to father time, completely restored, but that was the last thing next to the broom that she handled." The jester said.

"then perhaps that's why dorothy was able to summon them?" Rose suggested

"she'd have needed the slippers as well, I had the wands at the time, so I didn't summon them." The jester said setting the book down on the work table.

"well its not unknown to anyone, the fight at castle gray, could it be possible that they had been there? left something that allowed them to linger?" Rose asked curiously.

"they showed up in the forms they had, before being cursed and power hungry." The jester said.

"well how did you find it?" Rose asked curiously.

"completely on accident, I wanted a place to hide, first I went to my sister's castle in munchkin land and took the wands, then it occurred to me, that if castle gray was real, it would be the most ideal place to hide as few would likely be aware of or even remember its existence." The jester said drumming his fingers against the table/

"could the existence of the second wand have been a contributing factor that brought you back?" Rose asked.

"no, I was actually stuck in limbo for a time, but the wands have never actually fully answered to me, I'm not their true master, but I've bent both to my will, and I never preformed the ritual that would allow it." the jester said.

"I see." Rose said.

"no, you don't, I need to talk to father time." The jester said conjuring a watch.

Meanwhile in Emerald city.

Dorothy was sitting in the chambers with Alex and Ozma, watching the triplets play with some toys that Dorothy's aunt and uncle had sent with them. Toto and pockets sat at Dorothy's side while pockets's siblings, Alexa, oddball, and patch kept close to their charges, making sure they didn't run off in the event dorothy somehow got distracted. It had been an interesting morning, as Marshall Mallow had received an urgent summons back to candy county, as the ground in that area had started quaking in isolated incidence since two that morning. The china princess stayed behind at the urging of everyone. Glinda was in her room doing some reading to take her mind off things as she was instructed by her parents, Locasta had been set to doing some paper crafts by Ozma to try and keep them separated for as long as possible. Both found these tasks mundane and demeaning but couldn't argue that keeping them separated was rather a necessity lest it cause a burden to everyone else. Tin man and scarecrow had gone to the library followed by ace, Betsy, and trot. Eliza, donna, Kelly, and Annabella had gone to the courtyard. Lion had not yet returned. No one had seen a thing of Madeline that morning, but it didn't really bother anyone as it wasn't unusual for her to disappear, but Jack had gone with her, so it left Morris and Wendell without much to do other than continue their seemingly endless chess matches. And as dorothy sat watching her cousins silently play with their toys she began to realize she was getting a tad bored.

"so, Betsy, trot, and ace are in the library with scarecrow and tin man, Marshal Mallows' gone to candy county, donna, Kelly Annabella, and Eliza are at the courtyard, lion hasn't returned yet, the rest of Glinda's army is having another secret meeting, where does that leave us?" Alex asked counting things off as he looked at his watch.

"alone, bored, I'd consider playing make believe with my cousins if I felt it were needed, but they're completely fine." Dorothy said sighing.

"Odd, every time I'm watching you guys in the crystal ball, they get restless when their mother so much as leaves the room, even if you are there." Ozma said turning to them.

"I know, I wonder if Maddie has anything to do with it?" dorothy asked looking around expecting her to just appear.

Ozma and alex did the same, they found it a tad odd that she wasn't around, but if jack was with her it was likely they went off for some alone time. Or at least these were Alex's thoughts.

"did Morris or Wendell mention anything when you went to check?" Dorothy asked turning to Ozma.

"didn't bother asking, they seemed so engrossed in their game that it didn't seem worth the effort to try and get their attention." Ozma said.

"actually, that brings a question to my mind." Alex said looking at dorothy.

"what about?" dorothy asked curiously.

"Do Morris and Wendell answer to you like they do Madeline? I mean, will they just zap themselves over when called like they do when she shouts for them?" Alex asked arching an eyebrow.

"I never really thought about it, I have no need for them either, they're Maddie's assistants, she asks them to do something, remind her of something, get materials, so on and so forth, no services I particularly need." Dorothy said shrugging.

"you could always try?" Ozma said.

"yes, its not out of the question, but I wouldn't want to bother them just to test it out." Dorothy said taking toto onto her lap.

"I mean, in all fairness, it's more likely that they'd answer to you as well, Ozma." Alex said turning to her.

"most likely but most people would come if I called them, can't think of too many who wouldn't." Ozma said with a slight shrug before relaxing back against her throne.

"well, I think we should at least try to call them, maybe one of them knows where Madeline and jack went?" Alex suggested sitting on the floor next to Dorothy's feet.

"does it really matter? Even if they do tell us, it's incredibly likely Maddie will just appear behind my throne and scare the living daylights out of all of us." Dorothy said, checking just to be sure.

"oh, don't tell me you never thought about doing things like that, ever." Alex said with a smile.

"pranks and jokes, and general naughtiness were always your forte, I never bothered with it, besides, what's so fun about nearly sending someone into a heart attack?" Dorothy asked curiously.

"usually just the way they react, usually a good way to get a good laugh, used to have loads of fun pulling pranks on Mombi." Ozma said looking up at the ceiling.

"anyways, I'd rather not have that happen." Dorothy said.

"well, I could always send you two to candy county to see if Marshall mallow needs any help and have Glinda or someone watch the triplets." Ozma offered.

"well, we'd have to get Glinda's clearance for that anyways, why she doesn't let dorothy roam without having a watchful eye on her, ill never understand." Alex said rolling his eyes

"well, you could always use the slippers, Glinda may be able to transport you through the scepter, but she has no control over the slippers." Ozma suggested.

"Ozma, that's all fine and dandy to consider, but then you have to ask, would it be worth all the worry it would put Glinda through if alex and I left here rather precipitously? Besides, I'd have to go get them, and that would raise some questions wouldn't it?" dorothy asked.

"probably not and yes, but it would get you out of the palace, Glinda has become a little more relaxed about letting me roam about my own castle, but she's not entirely comfortable with me leaving, she knows you can hold your own, as can alex." Ozma said.

"but she worries about me you know that, I mean, I'd take my cousins down to the clearing if it weren't for the facts that Marshall took Tugg with him, and the fact that it looks like it may rain later." Dorothy said.

However, before any of them could say another word the china princess came in.

"Dorothy, alex?" She asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

"yes?" they both replied

"Can I ask a teensy, weensy little favor of you two?" She asked curiously.

Dorothy was about to say yes when alex cut her off.

"it depends, does it require going behind Glinda's back?" alex asked curiously.

"a little bit, yes." The china princess said.

"you want us to go assist your husband in candy county and make sure the tremors haven't reached china country, right?" alex asked.

"on the nose, Dorothy's not wearing the slippers, so it shouldn't require a noticeable shift of magical energy to move you two." She said smiling.

"alternatively, they could use the rainbow mover." Aislynn said coming in carrying a few books.

"But none of us know how to work the rainbow mover." Alex said.

"scarecrow and I do, I know because he taught me." Aislynn said as dorothy gave her a funny look.

Dorothy sighed and turned to Ozma, before once again sighing in defeat. She figured at this point there was, nothing to lose and she could go for a bit of adventure. But there was one end that needed to be tied first.

"Morris! Wendell!" she shouted.

"yes boss?" They asked appearing in the room.

"wait, so you do answer to her?" Alex asked.

"of course, she is part of Madeline, and Madeline is part of her, they're mostly one in the same, the hatter and jack are spending some time at their old branch of the community." Morris said.

"well, can you assist Ozma in watching my cousins while alex and I go to candy county to assist marshal mallow?" dorothy asked curiously.

"sure, thing boss." They said causing dorothy to wince a bit.

"wouldn't it make more sense to take them with you?" The china princess asked.

"my aunt would have my hide if something happened to them and they got hurt or something." Dorothy said not wanting to think about it

"you needn't worry yourself about it, they'll be fine on their own." Wendell said looking down at the triplets.

"toto, pockets, you two want to come along?" Dorothy asked looking down at them

"No thanks, too much risk an its hard for either of us to stand when the ground will consistently be shaking." Pockets said.

"ditto." Toto said jumping from Dorothy's lap.

"suit yourselves, you can help Morris and Wendell keep an eye on them." Dorothy said holding out her hand for the scepter.

"you two should probably bring an umbrella, looks like it may rain." Morris said summoning a large umbrella and handing it to alex.

Alex smiled and hooked the end in the crook of his arm before taking Dorothy's free hand.

"now you three won't be any trouble while alex and I are away, will you?" dorothy asked mimicking her aunt.

The triplets looked at her and shook their heads before going back to their playing. Dorothy found it odd that they were just sitting there, quietly playing, casting a glance to one another now and again as if they had some form of mental communication going on. However, she didn't dwell on this because it seemed more terribly complicated than most of the things she dealt with. As she, alex and Aislynn went to scarecrows workshop to use the rainbow mover. The triplets watched, their eyes flashing the emerald green that they often did and giggled.

Okay so quick authors note for anyone who may be confused, yes, I am likely writing what you think I'm going to write