Disclaimer, I don't own the movies franchises, etc.
After they got back to the farm house Dorothy went to her room and shut the door. Ellie had gone to the mirror to contact Glinda. Dorothy sat on her bed and took out the envelope, opening it she took out the note and read it to herself.
"Dear Dorothy, if you are reading this it means I am long since gone, or am going to be, I think it is safe to say that you followed my orders and are reading this in the privacy your home, I think it's important to tell you what is in my deposit box that I left you the key to." She said to herself turning it over, "in the box you will find a book, an emerald, and another key that goes to a room in the emerald city, do with those what you may, yours truly, Oscar Diggs." She finished tearing up.
It wasn't much to go by but she would have to drop by the bank at some point with her aunt and uncle. Right now she had to head to the library. She took the keys and the envelope and placed them in a drawer. She then slid into her flats and walked out of the room. She met Ellie in the living room, Glinda's image was fading from the mirror, and she had a sad look on her face. Ellie then turned around and smiled at Dorothy.
"So, you told her the news?" Dorothy asked looking at Ellie.
"Yep, she feels sorry for Aislynn, but it can't be helped." Ellie said.
"Well come on, let's go to the library, you can see what I do." Dorothy said as Toto walked up to them and barked.
"That sounds like fun, well let's go." Ellie said smiling.
Dorothy nodded and they walked out of the house. As they walked down the drive way they waved at Dorothy's aunt and uncle, who were waiting for Mr. Alistair to return to fix the tractor. As they walked they noticed that there were dark clouds beginning to roll in.
"Looks like it may rain later." Dorothy said.
"Seems like it." Ellie said looking up.
They continued to walk in silence with Toto following at their heels. When they got to the town Dorothy led her directly to the library. Where they were stopped by some guy she had never seen before.
"Sorry no dogs allowed miss…" He started to say before a woman came up to him and cut him off.
"Miss Gale is an exception to our rule, she is that story teller they told you about." The woman said.
"Thanks Mrs. T, but I think I could have explained myself." Dorothy said giggling.
"Sure thing Dorothy, but he's new." Mrs. T said.
"I understand, anyways can I go in?" Dorothy asked looking at the guy.
"Yes mam, sorry, I didn't realize you would be a child." He said letting them walk in.
As they walked in Dorothy walked to the children's section and sat down on a small stool.
"So this is where you quote unquote work?" Ellie asked.
"Yes, pretty much, when one child notices me here they all sort of follow, I wait for a minutes and then continue my story from where I left off." Dorothy said.
"What part did you leave off at?" Ellie asked curiously.
"I was telling them about how we met, I can only really keep them amused for an hour or two." Dorothy said.
"How sweet, but it took you over a year to tell your first and second adventures in Oz?" Ellie asked concerned.
"They ask a lot of questions." Dorothy said smiling as Toto walked off.
After a while a few kids ran over and sat down in front of Dorothy. Ellie smiled as Toto walked back followed by Donna and her Little sister.
"Hello Donna, and hello Kelly." Dorothy said looking at Donna's little sister.
"Hello Dorothy." Donna said, "Ellie didn't think I'd see you again." She added holding out her hand for Ellie to shake.
Ellie shook Donna's hand, Kelly then walked to Dorothy and tugged on her dress.
"Yes Kelly?" Dorothy asked.
"Is that the Ellie from your story?" Kelly asked.
Dorothy nodded and this made Kelly smile she then joined the rest of the kids. Dorothy began to tell them about her travels with Ellie in the woods of the Land of Oz, it brought back memories to Ellie, she remembered the smell of the forest, and she thought she should do it again at some point. After she got to the part where wiser picked them up some kids began to lose interest, so she tried to excite things with her first night in the emerald city, and her first night mare of the jester. That's when Ellie saw someone in a large overcoat and wide brimmed hat covering his eyes for the most part. She could see his mouth which was set in a worried smile. She looked at Dorothy, and smiled that's when Dorothy attempted to imitate the jester's wicked laugh.
"If you're going to do and imitation of me DO IT RIGHT!" a voice said booming throughout the library.
Thunder then shook the library as it started pouring outside. The jester's cackle was then heard throughout the library. Kids screamed Dorothy had gone ghostly pale, Ellie found herself wishing she had her sword. She ran over to Dorothy who collapsed in fear. Toto barked a few times as Dorothy's aunt and uncle ran in followed by Jessica.
"Dorothy! Ellie, what happened we heard the cackle and came running." Aunt Em asked.
"She sort of fainted a minute ago, Jessica what are you doing here?" Ellie asked.
"I'm here running an errand for Ace." Jessica said.
"So she's not here?" Ellie asked.
"No." Jessica replied
"Good, I don't want that child to get scared." Ellie said with a sigh of relief.
"Same here." She replied looking at the man in the overcoat.
He nodded and walked to Dorothy, picking her up. Toto barked a few times in distress.
"Hey, put her down!" Ellie said to the man.
"Ellie, don't worry." Came the voice of Mr. Alistair.
"Mr. Alistair? Why do you need to be so reclusive?" Ellie asked.
"Because no one wants to be associated with the Diggs family, I'm Aislynn's teacher during the summer." He said taking off the wide brimmed hat.
Donna ran up to her uncle and hugged him, she then placed a hand on Dorothy's forehead.
"She's fine, I think" Donna said.
Ellie ran out of the room to look for a mirror. After a while she realized she wasn't going to find one, she sighed and went back to and rejoined them.
"Do any of you guys have a mirror?" Ellie asked.
Auntie Em, Donna and Jessica rummaged through their pockets for a minute before Jessica produced a make-up compact, she handed it to ellie who produced a bottle from her own pockets. She opened the compact and dripped some of the contents on the reflective part. It rippled for a minute and then the image of the emerald city appeared. Glinda was already waiting there.
"Ellie! Thank Oz you're alright, where's Dorothy?" Glinda asked concerned.
Ellie turned the mirror in the direction of Mr. Alistair, Glinda sighed. Ellie didn't like that look that Glinda was getting, she knew that look, and she knew it well.
"We heard the jester sis." Ellie said.
"I know, we heard him as well." Glinda said, "Ellie, I have a new assignment for you" she added.
"Yes mam?" Ellie said.
"Go to the Diggs residence and guard Aislynn, The jester knows about her by now." Glinda said.
Ellie saluted, but then she looked at Dorothy, she sighed as the image faded from the mirror.
"Mr. and Mrs. Gale I have a mission, take me back to the farm." Ellie said.
Dorothy groaned and her eyes opened. Toto barked out of happiness, Dorothy turned to face Ellie. Just then the voice of Mrs. T came over the library's PA.
"Would a Miss Jessica Senzo please report to the checkout desk, I repeat, could a Miss Jessica Senzo please report to the Checkout desk." She said as the PA crackled a bit.
Mr. Alistair set Dorothy down on her feet, she gathered her balance back, and they all walked up to the main check out desk. A loud crash of thunder shook the library a bit. When they got to the front desk they were surprised to see another maid, she looked distressed, and Jessica gasped and nearly fainted.
"Jenny, where's Aislynn, you were supposed to be at the house watching her while I was getting some books." Jessica said.
"She won't come out of her room, she's not afraid of the thunder I know that but she won't come out of her room, she keeps saying, He's coming, over and over." Jenny said.
Dorothy looked worried at this.
"Take me back to her, did Mr. Diggs ever tell her about some guy named the Jester?" Dorothy asked.
"No, why?" Jenny asked.
"No reason." Dorothy replied bending over and picking up Toto.
Jenny looked at her for a minute, Ellie walked up to Dorothy and whispered her new mission in her ear. Dorothy nodded.
"What is she saying?" Jessica asked.
"Have you two ever heard of a place called Oz?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Mr. Diggs used it as subject for his stories why?" Jenny asked.
"Because it's real, your friend here, though I'm not sure she wants to believe it, just saw me contact my sister through her little compact." Ellie said.
Dorothy looked at Ellie in surprise but she wasn't going to question it at this point. Ellie smiled and produced a small bottle from her pocket, she slipped it carefully into Dorothy's dress pocket, watching her carefully hoping she wouldn't notice. She didn't, Ellie smiled and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Gale.
"Ellie, we'll take you back to farm house, someone needs to keep Aislynn safe, and according to your sister it's your new mission." Henry said as Em handed him an umbrella.
"I don't deny my sister, Dorothy, if you can, have either of these two get you the house." Ellie said as she and henry were walking out.
Dorothy's aunt nodded and followed them leaving Dorothy and Toto alone with the two maids.
"So, looks like this can't wait till tomorrow." Dorothy said.
"Seems not miss gale." Jenny said.
Dorothy looked at them and sighed, she set Toto down on the library counter.
"Please, just call me Dorothy, not Miss Dorothy not Miss gale, or Miss Dorothy gale, just Dorothy, anyone will tell you that I don't like formalities, I let you call me that in from of Mr. Diggs because it wasn't my house, but please, just call me Dorothy." she said as Toto barked.
"Yes Dorothy." jenny said.
Mrs. T then walked up to Dorothy.
"Dorothy, are you alright? I heard from Mr. Alistair that you fainted." Mrs. T asked in concern.
"I did, do you have an umbrella lying around?" Dorothy asked looking at her.
"Leaving so soon?" Mrs. T asked going under the desk and producing a large metal tipped umbrella.
"I have something important to do, I'll see you tomorrow." Dorothy said taking the umbrella from Mrs. T and picking up Toto.
"Right dear, good luck." She replied.
Dorothy walked out followed by the two maids, when she got out of the library she opened the umbrella and held it over her. Setting Toto down, she followed Jessica to a canary yellow car. She and Jessica both got in, Jenny ran to her own car which was emerald green. Toto jumped up on Dorothy's lap and shook himself off as they drove off. Jessica gestured to the glove compartment which Dorothy opened. Inside she found a bottle of cleaning spray and several wash cloths. Dorothy took one and wiped up all the water that Toto got everywhere. The rain began to pour down harder, they were passed by, what Dorothy recognized as the Sheriff's truck, and he was heading in the same direction they were which worried Dorothy.
"That's the sheriff's truck, do you think he's heading to the house?" Dorothy asked.
"I hope not, it will just make things more complicated." Jessica said.
After about twenty minutes or so they arrived at the house, the Sheriff was there, which made Dorothy sigh in frustration. They all got out of the car and ran to the house. When they got in Dorothy handed the umbrella to Jessica, she then slid out of her flats and ran up the stairs. When she got to Aislynn's room she found her sitting in the corner crying, the sheriff walked in behind her.
"Dorothy? wait why am I surprised to see you here?" the sheriff asked.
Dorothy didn't answer, she slowly walked into the room and approached Aislynn. She didn't go far before Aislynn turned around and threw a book at her. Dorothy ducked as did the sheriff, the book hit the floor of the hallway with a large echoing thud.
"Aislynn? Are you okay?" Dorothy asked as she reached her.
"He's coming, he's coming." She choked out.
"Who's coming?" the sheriff asked concerned.
"The man, the man with the wicked laugh, I heard it." Aislynn said.
Dorothy knew who Aislynn was talking about, she kneeled down and hugged her, and she then felt something in her pocket that she hadn't noticed before. But she shrugged it off. Dorothy had to keep Aislynn safe until Ellie got there.
"Aislynn, have you seen this man before?" Dorothy asked.
Aislynn nodded and pointed to a book that was on her bed, Dorothy looked at it. It looked like a small scrapbook. Dorothy got up and walked over to it. On the cover in large letters cut out of paper it said, 'my drawings.' Dorothy smiled and opened it. As she flipped through the pages she saw many beautiful pictures, some of the emerald city, others of her grandfather, Dorothy began to flip through the quickly, when she got to the last page she nearly fainted.
"The jester." Dorothy whispered to herself.
Aislynn got up and walked over to Dorothy, still crying.
"I see him in my nightmares, he's always laughing." Aislynn said crying.
"When did these nightmares start?" Dorothy asked wiping some tears from Aislynn's face.
"A few days ago, I drew him and I don't know why." Aislynn said.
Dorothy examined the picture for a minute. She then looked at the sheriff and gestured for him to go. He nodded and walked away. Toto jumped up on the bed, when he saw the drawing he growled. She was about to say something before they heard glass shatter and Jessica scream. Aislynn and Dorothy both ran out of the room. At the bottom of the steps they saw the sheriff with his revolver drawn, poised to shoot. Dorothy ran down the stairs, the front door flew open and Ellie ran in drawing out her sword and carrying the scepter.
She tossed the scepter to Dorothy who caught it. Dorothy looked in the direction of the parlor which was shut. Dorothy sighed, she waved to Aislynn to come down. She looked at her a little reluctantly, but sighed and walked down the stairs followed by Toto. Just then the doors to the parlor burst open revealing jester. Aislynn screamed and fainted. The sheriff caught her and dragged her out of the room.
"I knew you'd come here." The Jester said pulling a piece of paper from his sleeve.
"Leave these people alone." Ellie said.
"Can it blondie, your sister isn't here to keep you safe this time." The jester said taking out the wand.
"What are you doing here?" Dorothy asked tightening her grasp around the scepter.
She wasn't going to question how it got here, she wasn't worried at this point.
"I'm trying to get to you, after our last battle was a complete failure, I thought I'd try a different approach, I'm going to get you where it hurts the most, At home." The jester said laughing.
He then vanished in a puff of smoke, the sheriff ran back into the room and into the parlor. He walked over to Jessica and felt for her pulse, he sighed in relief.
"She's unconscious, but Dorothy, was that?" the sheriff asked worriedly.
"Yes." Dorothy said as Toto whimpered.
The rain then stopped but the sky remained dark and foreboding. Dorothy looked at Ellie and nodded. Ellie walked into the room that the sheriff had dragged Aislynn into. Dorothy then walked over to the rack and grabbed her flats from it. She slid into them, Toto barked at her in curiosity.
"Toto, I want you to stay here with Ellie keep them protected." Dorothy said looking at her dog.
Toto got into a position of attention, he barked sternly. Dorothy smiled and walked over to the sheriff.
"Dorothy, I'll drive you home, but first help me get Miss Jessica to a bed." The sheriff said as Jenny walked in with some tea.
She gasped, set it down and ran over, she helped the sheriff lift Jessica onto the couch.
"You two should go, I'll take care of her." Jenny said.
"Okay, Jenny, Ellie is in the other room with Aislynn, if anything happens or anyone mysterious shows up call the sheriff and tell him to get me." Dorothy said.
Jenny nodded as the sheriff took out a pad of paper and a pencil, he wrote something down and tore the paper off. He left on the table and nodded. Dorothy got up and walked back to the door, grabbing the umbrella she came with. She wondered where the sound of shattering glass came from the window in the parlor didn't look broken, but she knew appearances weren't anything to go by anymore. She sighed as she got into the sheriffs truck and they drove back to her town, scepter and umbrella in hand.