Disclaimer, you know, A/N: since it has taken so long to get this, like a little bit ago relatively speaking. This chapter went through a few rewrites and a merger as I felt I could not justify another multi-parter
Everyone turned to look at Madeline at this remark.
"one doesn't play around with glamour spells and not know what it feels like when someone enters a room under one." She said, sipping loudly from her cup again.
"doesn't make it polite to point out." Ozma said firmly.
"I'm more surprised that she's able to guess that." Nadia said walking over to her.
Unlike her sisters, Nadia was dressed rather similarly to how Dorothy herself was. Her sisters were wearing what appeared to be uniforms. While both had that same maroon colored sweater vest, one was wearing a cream-colored shirt with a maroon-colored skirt. While the other was wearing beige-colored pants.
"Black is also permitted." Cassandra said addressing Alex directly, "all the adults are to stay here, I shall show you all around while the Druin sisters' give the tour, Emily, Henry, it's your decision whether or not the triplets stay with you two." She added.
"I think it would be best if they stayed with us." Em said, "I'd rather not let these three out of my sight in an unknown place."
Everyone agreed that would be best, and with few words exchanged the groups separated. Cassandra started to lecture the adults as they all went out of the building into a long, rather plain looking hallway.
"We'll be showing you the specific dormitory we will all be occupying first." Said one of the older girls firmly.
They led them out of the hall and soon through a set of doors onto the grounds. It looked, as Dorothy observed, like a small town. Large buildings, small shops dotted around.
"I forgot my parents decided to put a branch of their sandwich shop here." Brianna observed, "never really comes up." She added as everyone turned to look at her, "I wonder who runs this branch" she added before continuing on
Aislynn was already hastily and loudly scribbling notes about the layout of the grounds on her clipboard. The girls led them to a large brick building which looked like it had seen some fire damage on the outside.
"don't worry the inside is perfectly fine." Nadia said, "they put priority on that first, and decided to clean the exterior later." She added before shrinking back.
The dormitory seemed to run on the concept of deceptively spacious on the inside, it was definitely magically expanded.
"Lounge and study areas." One of the older girls said pointing to a door on the left, "comes with its own kitchen area if any of you are into cooking and you guys choose not to eat at the cafeteria, all dormitories have one."
"Brianna is thrilled by that, I'm sure." Alison said elbowing Brianna in the side, as she was staring at the doors.
Going into the lounge, it elegantly furnished, with a mix of couches, armchairs, and the like, a few had tables in front of or between them. a few large bookshelves lined one of the walls, on one end there was indeed a decently sized kitchen area, and in opposite corners of the room there were circular areas surrounded by mist.
"are those neutral zones?" Alison asked curiously
"indeed." Nadia said smiling
"for you two." Madeline said, "a neutral zone is an area that one can practice magic in, spells can't pass through the mist either way."
"ah." Both Dorothy and Alex said in unison.
"anyways, Cassandra tasked me to show you, your boyfriend, and Glinda's younger sister and her boyfriend to your rooms." Nadia said producing four keys,
"I take it we'll be using my sister's old room?" Ellie asked curiously.
"yes, and I do apologize that it's not the largest room in the dorms." Nadia said seemingly trying to repress a smile.
Ellie let out a fake gasp of horror.
"my room isn't the largest? I am so disappointed." She said in mock horror
Everyone laughed at this, Dorothy and Alex were used to being forced into preferential treatment because despite what they said, everyone believed that Dorothy deserved it. Ellie on the other hand would get preferential treatment because of her relation to the second most powerful witch in oz. Ellie liked the preferential treatment as much as Dorothy did, as everyone was aware Ellie was set to one day take over for her sister. She had quite a lot to live up to. As Nadia led them to their rooms, which were up a flight of stairs. She first handed Ellie and Jude some keys and pointed them to a door with a large letter U emblazoned on it.
"U for Upland, suppose I shouldn't be surprised." Ellie said rolling her eyes.
"the rooms are rather plainly furnished, in order for you to add your own touch to it." Nadia said as they went it.
Indeed, the room was rather plain, unlike what Dorothy saw when looking at the memory, the layout was almost the same, but it was now as sort of dull red color instead of vibrant pink that Dorothy was used to in relation to Glinda.
"Well at least it's not bright pink." Ellie said looking around
"what's wrong with pink?" Jude asked curiously
"Unfortunately, Glinda is rather obsessed with the color, and before you ask, I am aware that our domain is Pink and Red so it's not really her fault." Ellie said with a sigh
"Fair." Jude said looking around.
Nadia took them to Dorothy and Alex's room next. The door was the only one in the building that didn't seem to have any distinguishing marks to it.
"So, in the event that people do come here looking for you two they have a bit of a task to do so." Nadia said flatly.
"in fairness if it weren't for the fact that Ozma asks for people to allow us some peace I don't think that either of us would be able to spend more than five minutes in the business district of the emerald city." Alex reminded, the scepter pinging in agreement.
Their room seemed to be a simple reconstruction of their current room in the emerald city. The difference being that the color scheme seemed to be a faded blue color, the room was indeed larger than the one Ellie and Jude had been given by quite a bit.
"I think they plan on redoing the wallpaper during the first break." Nadia said handing the two of them a couple of keys.
Once Dorothy and Alex were satisfied looking around, they returned downstairs to await everyone else.
"so, the hatter mentioned that one of you seems to be under a very powerful glamour spell?" Ellie asked curiously
"All three of us are." Nadia said sighing, "only spell I can currently perform"
"would it be too rude for us to ask why?" Ellie asked, "you know, just between us magic users?"
Nadia looked at the four of them and smiled.
"Cassandra said you all are very accepting of people, regardless of their faults." Nadia said, "promise you won't think any difference of us?" She asked, her hands beginning to glow.
"you have our word," Dorothy said rather more loudly than she had intended.
Nadia giggled and her hands began glowing brighter. It seemed as though all the color of her pale skin was retreating into her hands. Revealing bright pink where it had been. In moments she was standing there with a rather embarrassed expression on her face, and pink skin. Looking at the four of them to gauge a reaction. She observed they were looking at her curiously, but they didn't seem to be suffering any other adverse reactions to her. She took a deep breath and her skin and eyes faded to a sort of purplish color.
"ooooh." Ellie said in the tone of someone who just had all the pieces fall into place, "you and your sisters suffer from emotional tone syndrome, which is odd because that's really rare in blood lines."
"Yes, no matter what we say to someone, our true colors make it apparent to how we feel." Nadia said sighing, her skin fading back to the pink.
"you three don't have to be embarrassed about it though" Dorothy said looking her over
"you have to admit though, it's a pretty fitting reaction." Nadia pointed out, "but, it does mean we always have to be honest to people, it's embarrassing to try to lie to someone, hide surprise parties, et cetera."
"as we turn pink or purple to indicate it." Came the other two Druins as they led everyone else back to the lounge area.
"So, Cassandra placed you with these guys because you all are effectively outcasts?" Madeline asked curiously, "it would have helped if you had just told us from the get-go"
"it's more habit at this point." One of the girls said, the one in the skirt
"that one is Alana, the other is Ariana, you can usually tell them apart by checking the back of their necks" Nadia said, her skin fading to a sort of greyish color.
Both of the girls had also faded to this greyish color.
"I" Alana started, "have a birthmark on the back of my neck."
"and I" Ariana said, "have only what is described as a mole on mine, though we do at least try to make an effort to make ourselves look distinguishable from each other."
"anyways." Alana cut back in, "on with the tour?"
They all agreed this was probably best. It was here that Toto, eve, and pockets caught up with them. Their next stop was the library, which was huge. Aislynn was staring around at it in awe, to the point where Dorothy had to snap her fingers a few times in front of her to get her attention. She blinked and shook her head to clear it. As they left the library they came to another hall of classroom. All of a sudden, a shrill grinding sound that set everyone's teeth on edge began resonating through the hall.
"That stupid chalkboard." Alana said clapping her hands over her ears, her skin becoming a pale a green
Moving with a purpose down the hall they came to a lecture hall with a very big chalkboard in it.
"it's been here since Cassandra and Angela originally worked here, occasionally it just starts screeching for some reason, but it's become more active as of late." Ariana said loudly.
At once there was a very loud bang and the chalkboard went silent. Once the ringing in their ears had cleared, it turned out that Ellie, Madeline, and Ozma had all drawn their wands against it.
"whose classroom is this anyways?" Polly asked louder than she had intended,
"no ones, in particular, it's a multipurpose room, mostly it's used as a study hall, they moved the chalkboard here as it started becoming a nuisance, Cassandra said she'll make an effort to try and help with it later," Ariana said
"So, it isn't hers?" Ozma asked curiously.
"no, it's just been here since her time." Nadia said looking at it, "it was apparently enchanted to take down important points of whatever lesson its being used for, but I guess with age it's getting rather tired, the running theory is that it makes the screeching noise to relieve the monotony,"
"well, it's definitely interesting." Annabella said looking at it,
The next place they were led to was what appeared to be a dance hall, it was large, the floor highly polished, a large chandelier overhead. The walls were lined with tables that they were told were set out for occasions. On a table in the middle of the room was a record player with a record on it.
"I wonder which one they left here this time." Alana said walking over to it, "Anyone mind?" she asked curiously.
Everyone shared a glance at this, no one objected, in fact they all seemed to now have the same amount of curiosity toward it. The record needle was moved and with a quick scratching noise that caused all three sisters to wince and turn grey momentarily. it began playing what could only be described as a slow dance. Dorothy turned to look at alex to find him moving his hand in time with it.
"we've heard from Lady Cassandra that you two are quite the dancers." Ariana said turning to dorothy and Alex.
"I think we all can pretty much confirm that fact." Ozma said giggling, "though, I wonder, how are you guys with a quicker tempo?" she asked curiously.
"I imagine we can handle it." Dorothy said looking at alex.
"Depending on which of you is leading?" Aislynn asked curiously
"And whether or not alex is carrying that ruby." Lily said, causing violet to take a step back and wince.
"Lily, do you just assume that everyone is up to some kind of mischief?" Thomas asked sounding very annoyed, "I won't deny, the circumstances of dorothy getting the ruby were, well…how do I put it nicely?" he asked curiously.
"Uncouth?" Violet asked curiously.
"That's one word for it." The Jester said, appearing on some of the overturned chairs.
"Oh, come on pop, can't I have a moments peace on that respect?" Lily asked groaning.
"Would you prefer your mother have all our hides?" the Jester asked curiously.
"Not really." Lily said, mostly in a mumble.
"then no." he replied before turning his attention to ellie and Jude, "I saw you two dancing at the wedding, did very well were it not for the turn." He added.
"It wasn't that bad." Ellie said going very red in the face.
"Ellie, he managed to get your arm up your back." Elena said through some giggling.
Alex couldn't help but chuckle, dorothy had to hide her mouth as to not give anything away.
"you typically aren't given extra points for getting your partner in a half nelson, unless something has changed." Alison said looking over to alex
"Not to my knowledge." Alex said with a shrug, "then again, I've never participated in a dance contest here in Oz."
"Nor would it be fair to judge us in one." Dorothy added.
"Why not?" Nadia asked curiously
"Because when these two get dancing, magic literally starts forming between them, becomes nearly impossible to look away." Madeline said taking a loud from a cup of tea
"If that's so, then I think we should move on, at least for now." Alana said, "Cassandra said you two turn a few heads when you dance, I didn't realize she meant by magical force."
"It just sorts of happens." The jester said with a shrug, "Quirk of nature."
"Is there a record of others doing it?" Nadia asked turning to her sister,
"I think Glinda once mentioned that it was rare, but it has happened before." Aislynn said, "mentioned that the two of them are the only ones she's actually seen."
"Again, Cassandra is probably the better authority on the matter." Elphaba said coming into the room
"Cassandra is a better authority of most things, she knows way more than she tells anyone, and everyone knows it." The jester said turning to his sister.
"I assume, mother sent you?" violet asked curiously.
"Just making sure the three of you stay out of trouble" Elphaba said nodding, a smug smirk crossing her face.
"no chance of any dignity being spared?" the jester asked sarcastically.
"whatever remains." Elphaba said with a giggle.
"Ok, before something gets started, might I suggest we move things along." Aislynn said looking at the three who were leading the tour.
"I agree, there's still quite a bit to see, and morrible would probably prefer that we get done before noon." Nadia said with a nod,
Alana took a moment to move the table with the record player on it to a far wall. Once this was done, everyone filed quickly out of the hall to continue the tour.
Meanwhile, with the adults
It is a commonly well accepted fact that no matter how invested in a subject you are, odds are good you are still going to find a lecture on it dull. As the adults, and the triplets were learning the hard way. Mr. Druin had prepared a few packets outlining out things would go the following school year, and like your average students everyone was nodding off while listening to the lecture on it.
"So, you see, the curriculum is split into a rather even mix of constructive and hands on, and regular classwork." Mr. druin said sounding rather excited. He looked over the room he was effectively controlling and turned to Madame Morrible,
She had begun dozing off in the chair she was using, even Cassandra was leaned forward on her stick her eyes closed. Mr. druin sighed loudly and took a silver whistle from his pocket. Licking his lips, he blew into it, the sound of which caused everyone to jump.
"Sorry about that, I'm afraid I just have one of those voices it seems." He said shrugging.
"but you're a darn good teacher, and always have been." Angela said stretching.
"Well, I try at any rate." He said shrugging.
"you've got some of the highest grades in the school." Mrs. Marsh said yawning loudly.
"is that true?" Mr. teak asked curiously.
"Surprisingly." Madame morrible, Cassandra, and Mrs. Marsh said in unison
"Like I said, just one of those voices "Mr. Druin said. "anyone have any questions?" he asked
All the adults shared a glance for a moment.
"yes, this packet doesn't mention much on physical education, or gym as most know it." Mr. teak said looking
"It's a completely optional program, due to various reasons it's never been particularly popular" Mr. Druin said.
"Probably because most people do most of their running when they're near anything bordering the wildwoods." Mrs. Marsh said rather flatly.
"Please tell me you have a wall mostly blocking it?" Mrs. teak asked in earnest.
"a wall, a gate because someone has to cut back the brush, several signs, the wildwooders don't harm the students or college staff usually." Mr. druin said sighing, "nothing stops students from going in on a dare, they will manage to find a ladder, or a way passed the gate." He added sounding annoyed.
"they may rough em up a little though." Mrs. Marsh said sighing, "going anywhere passed the gates or even getting caught with a ladder or some solution over that part of the wall gets you a month of detentions, please see the back of the packet." She added
"no ifs ands or buts, no playing the hero, no fools' errands, no fits of peak, et cetera, et cetera." Came a voice that caused them all to turn, the fits of peak having been delivered in a regretful tone.
At the back of the lecture hall, sitting with her feet propped up on the seat in front of her, was the mysterious girl that kept popping up. She was scribbling something in her diary.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Madame morrible asked curiously.
"Someone from our future." Glinda said sounding a little annoyed, "and there's no point in asking her for any further questions, because you won't get answers." She added
"I see…" Morrible said suspiciously,
"Why am I here, is usually a good place to start." The girl said with a giggle, "Glinda can explain it to you, then you guys can go on your tour of the grounds, I'm going to go track down the others." She said getting to her feet and quickly leaving the hall.
"Timeline is in flux, and she has been tasked with ensuring we all get a future." Cassandra said quickly.
"basically that." Glinda said blinking a few times, and rubbing her temples, "it's beginning to be a bit of a headache."
"people who mess around through time usually are though, considering how few people have ever been shifted back through it." Cassandra said looking towards the exit.
Meanwhile back with the regular group, they were now walking along the administration building.
"here you'll find Morrible's office, amongst others." Nadia said sighing, "and far back behind it, where we will not be going, is the wall and gate separating us from the wildwoods"
"Entering which, grants the most severe punishment." Came the voice of the mysterious girl.
Everyone turned to look at her as she caught up to them diary in hand.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Nadia asked curiously
"it's a long story." The girl replied.
"and we don't know most of it." Madeline said sighing, "I know it's hypocritical to say this, but it's getting rather annoying."
"look, don't blame me for having a job to do, just wait till you all get to where I am." The girl said scratching something out in her diary, "will be? Both probably."
"tensing is probably confusing for you." Ariana said sounding rather lost for what to say.
"it is." The girl replied, "and the adults will be catching up with you all in a few minutes" she said looking over the group.
"Any hints for how things are going to go?" Alex asked curiously.
"None that I can give to any of you with spoiling plot details, at least pertaining to this place, not that any of you besides the hatter will remember them" she replied scratching another thing off in her diary.
"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted by that remark." Madeline said sounding a little a more annoyed now.
"Both would be my wager." The girl said rather flatly.
"you were right about the watch maker by the way." Alex said holding his up, "Got it fixed the other day." He added.
The girl giggled and scratched one more thing out before snapping the book shut and pocketing it.
"well, you all know the drill, and for those of you that don't, you will see me again, I won't tell you when, or even where, and you won't even remember most of this, but I will catch up with you eventually." She said with one last grin, and she vanished.
"time is a very confusing thing and even more-so in." The jester said blinking a couple of times as if to clear his vision, "and that's given me a bit of a headache"
"You get used to it." Alex said sighing, "well, anyways, on with the tour?" he asked looking around.
"Yea, we better." Ariana and Alana said "once the adults catch up its going to get very boring, as our dad will be taking over, and he has got…" they trailed off
"one of those voices?" Madeline asked curiously.
"the ones that bore you to sleep for the most part?" Annabella asked causing alex to wince.
"basically." The three sisters said in unison, "he keeps a whistle on him to wake people up, its rather jarring to be honest"
"well, at least I have a way of waking people up." Mr. druin said as he caught up to them.
"Glinda?" ellie asked curiously.
"sorry." Was the response that came
"I forgot to shut her out." Ellie sighed with a wince, "well let's get on then, I'm sure you adults have some packets for us to read?" she asked.
"the same ones we've been reading the entire time." Mr. teak said rolling his up and tossing it to his son
Alex caught it with expert precision and quickly skimmed it.
"rules, regulations, dress code, a great big warning at the back about the wildwoods" he said, "shouldn't that be at the front?" he asked curiously.
"order of priority, that's why it has an entire section dedicated to it instead of large mean looking red letters." Nadia said sighing, "but seriously, stay away from it, it's a months' detention for anyone who isn't the gardener to get passed or over the wall and gate. Anyways, may as well move, along shall we? Lots of walking to continue on with, not to mention that soon people will be fully waking up and then we will have a problem on our hands."
"people actually sleep in on Saturdays?" Aislynn asked curiously
"I know, surprising, isn't it?" Mrs. Marsh asked
"well then, let's run along, don't want to be caught in a rush of admirers, things could get rather messy." Glinda said firmly.
"quite right, everyone, follow this way." Mr. Druin said taking control of the tour.
