Chapter 8

Dorothy woke up as the sun shone into her room. She looked around the room and only then did she remember that she was in Glinda's castle. She sighed with happiness. The past three days had been the best of her life. She had the chance to see Lion in the forest, and also got the chance to visit the Tin Man, who now having a heart, began to cry with happiness as soon as he saw her, and rusted.

"They treat me like a national icon here" She had remarked

"That's because you are" The tin man had pointed out.

She was disappointed to find out that the Scarecrow had disappeared soon after she had left Oz. She only hoped that he was okay. A knock at her door then interrupted her thoughts.

"Miss Dorothy, your dress" A servant said from the other side of the door

"Come in" Dorothy responded.

The servant walked in timidly and laid Dorothy's clothes on the side of a chair. And just as quickly as the servant entered, she was gone. Dorothy sighed and put on her dress and went out the door. The hallways of the castle were lit from the sunlight pouring in from the windows. Dorothy went down the polished hallway and down the stairs to the main dining room. Dorothy saw a long table with food galore on top of it.

"how was your night?" A voice said from behind her.

Dorothy turned around, clearly startled, but calmed down when she saw it was only Nalia.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't sneak up on people like that" Nalia quickly apologized and smiled

"It's okay, I just wasn't expecting you to be here this early" Dorothy said

"Well, Glinda had to go to Munchkinland for the day, so I'm just castle sitting until she returns. Then I have to return back to my own castle"

Then at that very moment, light footsteps began to echo throughout the room. Dorothy then felt as if she had been shoved from behind, and turned around only to see that Fausto was grabbing her leg again.

"Dorfy!!" He said and giggled

"well..I suppose that'll just have to do now won't it?" Dorothy said and bent down in front of Fausto and started playing with him.

"Where's Mommy!?" Fausto then demanded

"Mommy had to go do some things..but I'm sure if you're a good boy with Aunt Nalia, she'll bring back a lollipop.."

Fausto then jumped for joy and yelled "Lollipop!!"

"I'm taking a wild guess and saying that he likes lollipops?" Dorothy said picking up the boy and bringing him to his seat.

"He might as well had been born with a lollipop in his mouth instead of a golden spoon" Nalia remarked and sat down across from Fausto and Dorothy.

Another servant then entered holding Melinda, who was fussing. Nalia sighed and got up from her chair and went over to the servant and took Melinda from her.

"From over here, it looks like she glows" Dorothy remarked as Nalia held Melinda.

And it was true. The sunlight from the windows poured onto Melinda, who then calmed down and opened her big blue eyes.

"There, she's just hungry" Nalia said walking back to her chair and grabbed a bottle from another servant.

Dorothy nodded and began to eat silently. She then had a thought run throughout her mind. "It must be something to have to take care of a child, to be a mother..I wonder if I'll ever be one" It was true that Dorothy couldn't even picture herself holding a small child and supporting it, let alone being it's mother. She just never really thought that far ahead. She never pictured herself getting married and starting a family of her very own.

"umm.Dorothy..Is something the matter?" Nalia then asked

"What? Oh no, I'm quite fine" Dorothy said snapping back into the present

"Okay, it's just that you looked troubled" Nalia said then looking back down at Melinda

"I was just thinking how hard it must be to be a mother" Dorothy then said

"well, I can't tell you much about that" Nalia said and smiled "but being an aunt is not much different. Taking care of children is a huge responsibility."

"I imagine so" Dorothy said "I don't think I would make a great mother though"

"why is that dear? I think you would be a perfect mother. Just look at Fausto..he completely adores you" Nalia said

Fausto was just staring at Dorothy with his big round eyes. Dorothy laughed. "I guess so..well, I have to listen to you anyway..you'd probably know better then anyone back in Kansas that's for sure"

Nalia nodded and then looked at Fausto "Eat your breakfast"

Fausto seemed to be staring into space for another minute before Nalia then said "Lollipop" He shook his head and looked at Dorothy again and shouted happily "DORFY!!"

"I'll let you work on that" Dorothy said and ruffled his hair.

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Chistery flapped his wings harder then ever before. The sand blew into his face and stung his eyes, but he dared not stop or complain. Elphaba had given him her trust and he wasn't about to give that up. The skies then began to clear as Chistery came out of the desert. He landed for a moment and took a look at the baby. She sneezed and looked at Chistery and grabbed his fur. Chistery yelped a little and then decided to move on. They flew high above Gilikin Country.

Hours passed and soon the sun began to set in the West. Chistery caught a glimpse of the Witch's castle in Winkie Country. He sighed and kept on flying until he saw green light shining. Chistery began to fly a little faster as he headed towards the Emerald City, which wasn't too far away from Glinda's castle.