Disclaimer, well you know.
Friday had been pretty uneventful regardless of what had happened that morning. Dorothy spent her day helping her aunt and uncle with extra chores around the house given that she now, yet extremely unexpectedly came into a large amount of free time. Glinda had returned to the farmhouse later that day to announce that she was sure the jester was responsible for the break in and was returning to Oz. as soon as she departed Dorothy, Ellie and Aislynn spent some time getting things ready for the harvest the next day. Aislynn was still a little nervous about having so many people around the farmhouse and in the back of her mind hoped that Mrs. Gale would allow her to stay inside the farmhouse. Today however was now Saturday. Dorothy had woken up bright and early, before anyone else, and changed out of her nightgown and into an orange shirt, and her usual jean dress. She then pulled on her boots and grabbed the scepter. Then walking out of her room she rummaged through her pockets and eventually found her hair ribbon. She then tied her hair into pigtails and sighed.
"Well, this should be a great day." Dorothy whispered to herself walking into the living and sitting down on the couch.
She sighed and leaned back stretching. She soon heard the sounds of everyone else in the house waking up. Aislynn was the first one out in the living room. She was still in her nightgown, Toto followed close behind.
"Morning Dorothy." she said.
"Morning ace, is something wrong?" Dorothy asked sitting up.
"No, nothing's wrong." Aislynn said trying not to make eye contact.
"Aislynn, you know that if you have any problems, then you can confide them in me, Ellie, and my aunt and uncle, come, sit, and please tell me what's wrong." Dorothy said.
Aislynn sighed in defeat and walked over to the couch. Toto ran over and jumped into Dorothy's lap, he then proceeded to stand up on his hind legs and quickly licked Dorothy on the cheek, in turn making her giggle.
"Dorothy, you know that I'm pretty shy right?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Yes." Dorothy said looking at Aislynn curiously.
"Yes, well, with the harvest today, I'm frightened of there being a bunch of people here at the farmhouse." Aislynn said.
"Oh, I see, well, Aislynn don't worry, the people in this town are really nice people, and they all know me and my aunt and uncle, so you have nothing to fear." Dorothy said placing a hand on aislynn's shoulder.
"I knew you might say that, but I hope your aunt will let me stay in my room with my books instead of helping with it, I still don't feel comfortable in large crowds." Aislynn said pushing the hand away.
"Ace, I'm not sure about that, we all want you to be a bit more social outside of the farmhouse and school, anyways, why don't I have Auntie Em call your maids, maybe they can come down here and accompany you around the fields." Dorothy said smiling.
"I think that would be nice." Aislynn said as Dorothy's aunt walking into the room, she was already changed into her work clothes, she was followed by Ellie who was still in her nightgown just like Aislynn was.
"I heard my name mentioned, is something wrong?" Em asked curiously.
"No auntie Em, but would you mind calling up Aislynn's maids and see if they want to come and help keep ace company in the fields? She's a bit nervous about having so many people around the farmhouse today." Dorothy said looking over to her aunt.
"I'll call them after breakfast, I don't think they'll be awake yet." Em said looking out the window at the rising sun.
"I think that's fair enough." Dorothy said getting up.
"I agree, Aislynn, please go and change." Em said as Ellie walked over and led Aislynn back to their room.
Dorothy sighed as did her aunt who now walked out of the room and into the kitchen. Dorothy's uncle came into the room moments later, fixing on a pair of suspenders. He then looked at Dorothy and smiled.
"One of your most favorite times of year." Henry said chuckling.
"The first harvest, yes, it is indeed one of my favorites." Dorothy said smiling.
Toto barked a few times then jumped off of Dorothy's lap and ran towards the bedrooms. Dorothy smiled and got up, she tightened her grip on the scepter, and then walked over to the window. She watched the sun rise create a reddish purple tinge on the horizon of the fields. The rows of corn looked beautiful in the rising sun. She sighed and leaned against the window pane.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Ellie asked suddenly, making Dorothy jump.
"Ellie, warn me when you're coming into the room." Dorothy said catching her breath and turning to look at Ellie.
Ellie was now wearing an outfit similar to that of the one her aunt was wearing. Blue jeans, a white work shirt and a jean jacket. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail once more. She was also wearing light brown work boots. She looked at Dorothy and smiled.
"If I did that where would be the fun in being one of your best friends?" she asked walking over and giggling.
"Oh, don't tease like that, but anyways, yes it is beautiful, will Aislynn be ready soon?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"She'll be out in a minute." Ellie said walking towards the kitchen
Dorothy sighed and turned back to the window. She then heard the sound of Toto walking back into the room followed by Aislynn. She then turned around and saw Aislynn. Now wearing an outfit similar to her own except she was wearing a bright red shirt underneath the dress.
"You look beautiful Ace, why don't you go to the kitchen with Ellie, I think she's helping my aunt or something." Dorothy said walking over to her.
Aislynn smiled and ran to the kitchen, Dorothy then knelt down and started petting Toto for a bit.
"Toto, I don't get how you can always stay so calm." Dorothy said smiling.
Toto barked and sat up. Dorothy chuckled at this and went to join everyone else in the kitchen. As she got closer she could smell sausages cooking. She inhaled and sighed. Toto then ran over and joined her in her walk to the kitchen. As she walked in she saw Aislynn and Ellie sitting at the kitchen table. She loosened her grip on the scepter a bit and sighed again. She walked over and joined them.
"So, Auntie Em what's for breakfast today?" Dorothy asked.
"Scrambled eggs and sausages." Em said.
Dorothy's uncle then walked over to them and set out plates and silver ware for them.
"You guys can serve your selves once Em is done cooking, she and I have to go to Mrs. Kepelsen's to help her and her husband get their orchard ready." Henry said smiling.
"Say hi to Mrs. Kepelsen for me." Dorothy said smiling.
"Don't worry we will." Em said putting some more sausages in the pan.
"And don't forget to call Aislynn's maids." Ellie reminded.
"I'll do that as soon as we're done at Mrs. Kepelsen's, by then they should be awake." Em said chuckling.
"Thanks Mrs. Gale." Aislynn said now slouching in her chair.
Dorothy smiled at this, she couldn't wait for the harvest to begin.
Meanwhile at the jester's hideout.
The jester was happily doing cartwheels and flips around the crystal ball. Soon he dismounted and laughed wickedly.
"Soon Dorothy gale, your punishment shall begin, with a transformation spell that only I can break!" he said to himself cackling wickedly.
A flying monkey flew into the room carrying a small card, he handed it to the jester and walked off. He examined it closely, he then realized it was another business card type item. He read it aloud.
"Basil would like to inform you that all of us are hungry and would like something to eat!? Where did you guys even learn how to make these things…? I think I just had a Déjà vu." He said now a bit confused.
He snarled and took out the wand, he flicked it and found himself instantly in the quarters of the flying monkeys.
"I'm not even going to ask where or how you guys learned how to make these, but while I'm gone help yourselves to the stuff in the kitchens, just leave some stuff left over for me to eat, is that clear?" He asked the monkeys.
They all nodded and saluted, the jester then flicked the wand again and found himself back in the chambers with the crystal ball. He waved the wand over it and it switched to the image Glinda who was trying to keep her spell from unbinding as well as having an argument with the scarecrow.
"Glinda, as ruler of Oz I forbid you to use that spell, no matter what!" he said sternly.
"Forgive me your majesty, but that spell is only to be used if Oz is in grave danger, and if his spell spreads closer to the emerald city and breaks away from the borders of munchkin land then I will have no choice but to cast it." Glinda said referring to the Grimmerie.
"Glinda, you know what it will do to you, you've seen its effect on the user, remember your Aunt?" Scarecrow asked curiously.
"Yes I do, and she gave her life to protect this land by using the spell three times, the last time she knew full well would kill her, I have never used it once." Glinda said starting to get frustrated.
"So Glinda, that's how you became successor of the north then? Well, well, well we do have a bit of a history then don't we? The never ending battle to keep Oz safe." The jester said chuckling.
"Glinda for the last time, I forbid you to use that spell, you told me that your aunt was never the same after she used the spell just once." Scarecrow said sternly.
"Scarecrow, your majesty, if it all comes down to it, I have my orders from you, to keep this land protected in any way possible, and you yourself said those orders are not to be countermanded not even by you." Glinda said sighing
The scarecrow looked at her and hung his head in defeat, those had been his exact orders, though never did he think anything would ever get this far.
"Fine, do what you must, but you may only preform the spell once, and only if you have to." Scarecrow said sighing in defeat and walking out of the room.
"Well then Glinda, it looks like the game will soon begin, but you need not cast that spell yet, heck you don't even need to keep the spell from spreading, I control it, therefore it won't spread outside of munchkin land's borders unless I command it to be so." He said chuckling and waving the wand over the crystal again.
The crystal switched back to the image of Dorothy gale, who was now enjoying her breakfast with her friends. The jester looked at the girl and smiled, he then flicked the wand and the crystal went dark.
"Now, I should head off to Kansas." He said to himself laughing wickedly.
Meanwhile back in Kansas at the Gale residence.
Dorothy, Ellie and Aislynn had just finished their breakfast and Dorothy had begun washing the dishes and cookware. She did this as a first chore, she hadn't been told to but her aunt and uncle would be busy for the rest of the day and she didn't want to put this on their plate as well.
"Dorothy, Ellie and I are going to go play with Toto outside." Aislynn said.
"Okay, have fun." Dorothy said placing the plates back in the cabinet.
She soon heard the sound of the back door opening and then closing again, she sighed and began washing the frying pan her aunt had used. Dorothy sighed, it wasn't long before she finished the chore and had put everything away. She then picked up the scepter and walked out the back door. It was a bit chilly out this morning, but it wasn't unusual for the first harvest to be on a chilly Saturday like this one. She looked out at the field and saw Ellie and Aislynn taking turns throwing a ball for Toto to fetch and bring back. She giggled and walked back into the house, she then sat down at the kitchen table and waited for her aunt and uncle to return. After a few minutes of waiting Aislynn and Ellie came back into the house followed by Toto and Dorothy's aunt and uncle. Auntie Em looked surprised to see that everything was already cleaned up, yet at the same time she was relieved.
"Well, people will start arriving soon, I'll go call up aislynn's maids to see if they want to come and keep ace company" Em said walking out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"Well Dorothy, we had some fun playing with Toto I wish you had joined us." Ellie said sighing.
"Ellie I was doing a chore, not that I had to, but for the sheer unadulterated heck of it." Dorothy said getting up and walking over to them.
"Well, I'm heading out to the barn, got to make sure everything is ready." Henry said walking out again.
Dorothy smiled and looked at Ellie and Aislynn, she then knelt down and picked up Toto. She was about to say something when they all heard a knock on the front door. Dorothy ran over to the kitchen door and opened it. Standing in the door way she listened as her aunt opened the door.
"Oh, hello Mr. and Mrs. Teak, Good morning, please do come in, I see you've brought your little one with you." Em said.
Dorothy walked into the living room and set Toto down on the floor. She walked over to them.
"Ah Dorothy, good morning, how was your day yesterday?" Mrs. Teak asked curiously.
"Good morning Mrs. Teak, and my day yesterday was fine, thank you for asking, is Alex not with you?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"He's outside waiting on the porch, he said he didn't want to come in the house at all." Mrs. Teak said sighing.
Dorothy smiled and looked down at Annabella, she was asleep in her little carrier.
"How has she been?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"She's been well, she's been asking when she would get to see you again, and it was really cute to be honest, hopefully she'll start walking soon." Mrs. Teak said in a hopeful tone.
"At any rate we hope she's not going to be like Alex, he didn't walk for the first time till he was three, and when I say walk, I mean run." Mr. Teak said chuckling.
It was then that Annabella's eyes slowly opened. She looked around and spotted Dorothy. She giggled and tried to climb out of her carrier.
"Dorothy!" she said in her usual way.
Dorothy giggled and picked up Annabella. Annabella wrapped her arms around Dorothy's neck and hugged her tightly.
"She really loves you doesn't she?" Mrs. Teak asked curiously.
"Yes she does, has she tried walking at all?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"A few times, yes, the first two times she managed to get one step forward before falling flat on her behind and she's gradually improving, she made it the three steps yesterday after you left, I think she wanted to go with you." Mrs. Teak said chuckling.
"Well, it's a start, it could be worse, she could just spend her entire time sitting there doing nothing but waiting for someone to come and pick her up to bring her to somewhere else." Dorothy said smiling as Annabella playfully tugged at one of Dorothy's pigtails.
"That's how Alex was, and that's what were worried about, that she'll end up giving up till she thinks it's the right moment, you see Alex's first actual steps were like I said a running sprint." Mr. Teak said chuckling again.
"Well why not give her motivation, like, um…. Yea I'm lost, auntie Em what would you use as motivation for a little kid?" Dorothy asked curiously as both her head and Annabella's turned to her aunt.
"Well, personally since henry and I never had kids of our own, and you were already a fairly developed child when you came to live with us, id personally recommend bribes, like, well according to henry your grandparents would bribe your father with a cookie so that he would walk towards them." Em said chuckling.
"Well I guess that's more of an incentive, but I guess it could work, anyways, who doesn't love cookies?" Dorothy asked.
"People who don't like items of food with sugar in them?" Came the voice of Ellie from the kitchen door.
"Fair enough, thanks Ellie." Dorothy said sarcastically.
"Who that?" Annabella asked curiously.
"That's Ellie, she's one of my friends, she's one of the nicest girls I know." Dorothy said giggling.
"Oh." Annabella said still not quite understanding.
"Come on, let's go outside and talk to your brother." Dorothy said walking past Mr. and Mrs. Teak and walking out of the house still carrying Annabella and the scepter.
When she got outside she found Alex sitting on the steps. She walked over and sat down next to him. Setting the scepter out of his reach, she looked at him.
"How's your nose?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Still a bit sore, but its better thanks, I see my sister has her playmate back." Alex said chuckling.
Dorothy smiled and sat Annabella down on her lap, Annabella giggled and tried to climb off of Dorothy's lap and take a seat between them. Dorothy giggled and moved over allowing Annabella to take a seat between them.
"Alecks, you happy?" Annabella asked curiously.
Dorothy looked at Alex and gave him a look that made him go pale briefly. When he finally gained his senses back he looked down at his sister and smiled.
"Not really sis, I'm just a bit frustrated." He said.
"What that mean?" Annabella asked.
"It means, um a dissatisfied feeling, or just being a bit ticked off, or upset." Dorothy said so that Alex wouldn't have to explain it.
"Oh." Annabella said once again.
"Right, anyways, why did you guys come here?" Dorothy asked looking up from Annabella.
"My parents wanted to talk to your aunt and uncle personally to ask if you would be available as a baby sitter for Annabella after your punishment is over." Alex said smiling.
"How'd you learn about me being punished?" Dorothy asked.
"Donna, she also told me about your made up fairy land called Oz, do you really expect me to believe in that place?" Alex asked curiously.
"No I don't, if you do however good for you." Dorothy said grabbing the scepter and getting up.
"Thanks dear, love you too." He said sarcastically.
"Alecks love Dorothy?" Annabella asked curiously.
"No Annabella, your brother was being sarcastic, meaning he was making a joke." Dorothy said.
"Oh, so more than one love?" Annabella asked.
"I guess." Dorothy said thinking about it then walking up the steps.
"Dorothy where are you going?" Alex asked.
"Inside, why don't you follow?" Dorothy asked curiously
Alex sighed and walked up the steps. He followed Dorothy into the farmhouse. When they got inside Dorothy lead him over to the couches in the living room where Mr. and Mrs. Teak were talking to her aunt as well as Ellie and Aislynn.
"Alex, how nice of you to finally join us." Mr. Teak said chuckling.
"Oh don't scold me." Alex said chuckling and setting Annabella on the floor.
Annabella giggled and pushed herself up to her feet, she carefully took a step forward, then another, then another, and another, and one more. She then fell backwards and landed on her behind.
"Oof." She said making everyone laugh.
"Well it's an improvement." Mr. Teak said.
"Maybe we can have her walking by next week." Mrs. Teak said chuckling.
"Why can't we just let her wait, you know, like you say I did?" Alex asked curiously.
"Because, we don't want to wait three more years." Mrs. Teak said sternly.
"Why not?" Alex asked curiously.
Mr. and Mrs. Teak glared at Alex, Toto then walked over to Annabella and barked.
"Who this?" Annabella asked in her usual way.
"That's Toto, he's my dog." Dorothy said walking over to Annabella.
"Toto?" Annabella asked looking at the dog.
Toto barked and licked Annabella on her face.
"Awe, ick!" she said making everyone laugh.
"Awe he likes you." Dorothy said kneeling down to Annabella.
"I'll go get a washcloth, anyways, Dorothy, you should get ready, make sure you don't have anything on you that you don't want to lose in those fields." Auntie Em said smiling then getting up and walking to the kitchen.
Dorothy smiled and walked to her bed room. She emptied the contents of her pockets onto the dresser, these items were, her keys, her little pocket compendium, and a small variety of other things. When she had done this she walked back into the living room to find Auntie Em wiping Annabella's face with a wash cloth. She was spitting and sputtering against the washcloth making Dorothy giggle. Dorothy walked over, she was about to say something when her uncle came into the room.
"The Alistair's are here, as is Mr. Pryce with his wife." Henry said smiling.
Dorothy smiled and looked at Ellie and Aislynn. They got up and followed her as she walked out of the house to greet them. As she got outside she was embraced by Donna.
"How's the punishment going?" Donna asked curiously.
"It's boring." Dorothy said as they walked towards the fields.
They then met up with Mr. Pryce and his wife who were engaging in conversation with the Alistair, Mr. Pryce looked a bit pale and shaky, he looked over and saw Dorothy, he smiled weakly and everyone looked over to her.
"Ah Dorothy, how are you?" Mr. Pryce asked nervously.
"I'm good, you seem a bit jittery though." Dorothy said.
"He's been like that since Monday, he was doing well until the school got broken into, and at the moment I think he's a nervous wreck." Mrs. Pryce said worriedly.
"Oh, I don't think we've been properly introduced, I'm Dorothy gale." Dorothy said curtsying.
"Nice to meet you Dorothy, but I know who you are, when he returned to find me still waiting for him, he told me all about you I'm Alana Pryce." She said offering Dorothy a hand.
Dorothy took the hand and shook it. She then realized that they were carrying a basket.
"Well the fields are over there, help yourselves, if you need some help, my aunt and uncle should be out in a minute." Dorothy said.
"Thanks, come on hubby." Mrs. Pryce said leading her husband to her fields.
Dorothy smiled and walked into the fields after everyone. It didn't take long but she soon found herself in the middle of the field. Mr. Pryce was there leaning against the old scarecrow pole. Dorothy walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" Dorothy asked curiously
"Just nervous, that's all." He said shuddering.
Dorothy was about to say something when Alex, Ellie, and Aislynn ran into the center.
"Dorothy, your aunt and uncle are looking for you." Alex said.
"Did they say why?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"They wanted to know if you were helping people or if you just ran off again." Ellie said.
Dorothy smiled and was about to say something when they all heard a loud booming voice of the jester. Alex, Ellie, and Aislynn all jumped at hearing this and ran over to Dorothy.
"Well, well, well Dorothy gale, are we enjoying our punishment?" the voice asked teasingly.
"I'm not sure I can take much more of this." Mr. Pryce said as Mr. Alistair, Donna, and Mrs. Pryce ran into the center of the field.
Dorothy tightened her grip on the scepter, she signaled for all of her friends to stay back. She then took a step forward. There was a crash of thunder and the jester appeared before them. The scepter glowed for a bit and then went dark.
"What do you want!?" Dorothy shouted.
"Oi, don't shout, I don't want any harm, I just want to help you, or add to your punishment." He said smiling slyly.
He then flicked the wand and they were surrounded by a semi-transparent dome. Dorothy waved the scepter hoping to counter it, but nothing happened, the scepter didn't even glow. Glinda appeared and looked at the jester angrily, she waved her own wand to try and counteract the dome but it didn't work either. Her face went to an expressionless look, but at the same time it was one of confusion.
"Dorothy, I have a question for you, do you like cats?" the jester asked curiously.
"What?" Dorothy asked sounding confused.
"Do you like cats?" The jester asked again.
"Well, I think they're cute, yes, but no one can replace Toto." Dorothy said.
"Good, because…" he said trailing off teasingly.
"What?" Dorothy asked as she saw her aunt and uncle run into the field behind the jester and run into the dome.
"Though not to add any detriment, add this spell as your punishment, because now you're in trouble, you can't doubt that, but now safely, you shall become a Cat!" the jester said bringing the wand down sending a ball of light at Dorothy.
The ball hit Dorothy in the stomach, she doubled over, not in pain but in astonishment. She began to feel dizzy and nauseas. She felt an odd sensation, it felt odd, but it didn't feel like anything at the same time. She looked down to her hands and realized they were now the paws of a kitten. She looked up at the jester. He looked gigantic, for a moment she didn't feel anything, and then all sensations stop.
"Oh how cute, you do make quite a cute kitten if I do say so myself." He said chuckling.
"Why?" Dorothy asked, she then gasped "wait a minute, why can I talk?" she asked surprised.
"Yes, the spell I used turned you into a cat, oh wait a minute, let me allow your friends to hear this as well since they just witnessed it." The jester said flicking the wand again.
The dome disappeared and Glinda shot a spell at the jester, he ducked out of the way and chuckled.
"Oh don't worry, she's quite alright, and she can talk." The jester said smiling.
"Why would you allow me to talk though?" Dorothy asked.
"Does anyone have a bucket?" Mr. Pryce asked, now looking a bit green.
"I did this so you could know what it's like to be like a poor helpless animal, you will stay like this till I say you've suffered enough, you won't be able to leave your farmhouse outside of a box I assume." He said chuckling.
"Oi Bozo, change her back!" Alex said angrily.
"Oh you again, shut up or I'll fix you as well!" he shouted.
"Don't worry, I'll reverse the spell." Glinda said, though she didn't sound like she was being honest.
"Oh Glinda, sweet, sweet Glinda, you know that's not possible, the spell I used to transform her can only be lifted by me, anyways, you and I both know you never deal in transformations." The jester said chuckling.
"So she's stuck like this till you say!?" Alex asked angrily.
"Yes, and with that, I bid you all farewell." He said vanishing.
Dorothy sat up, or at least she tried to. This was going to take some getting used to and she knew it.
"Well, how do I look?" Dorothy asked nervously.
"A bit like a calico, but with a hint of blue." Henry said walking up to his niece and picking her up.
"Thanks uncle henry, but could you please put me down?" Dorothy asked now noticing that her voice was a few pitches higher.
"Dorothy?" came the voice of Alex from behind.
"Yes Alex?" Dorothy asked curiously as her uncle set her on the ground.
"What's it like?" he asked curiously.
"Alex!" Donna said sternly.
"What? It's a fair questions." Alex said drawing back.
"Donna, please, Alex, it's a bit strange, but I'm sure I can get used to it in time." Dorothy said looking around at her friends.
"Glinda, is there something you can do?" Ellie asked curiously.
"No, no there isn't my dear sister, the jester is right, the spell he used is an old one, but it's true that it can only be lifted by the jester himself, so from here on till he changes his mind Dorothy will remain a cat." Glinda said sadly.
"You mean, we have to deal with raising a cat?" Em asked pinching her arm to and closing her eyes.
Just then Mr. and Mrs. Teak ran into the field, Mrs. Teak was carrying Annabella in her arms.
"Where's Dorothy?" Mrs. Teak asked having heard the thunder.
"She's um." Henry said looking away from the cat.
Mrs. Teak sighed and placed down Annabella, she pushed herself up and Dorothy walked over to her. At least SHE had walking down, she would have to get used to having paws though. Annabella took some steps towards Dorothy and giggled.
"Dorothy?" Annabella asked pointing to the cat.
"Annabella, don't be silly, that's not Dorothy." Mrs. Teak said chuckling.
"Auntie Madison, I think there are something's that Kelly, Uncle Alex and I have to explain to you." Donna said sighing.
"Like what?" Mr. and Mrs. Teak asked curiously.
"Like the fact that Dorothy really is the cat." Glinda said sadly.
Annabella placed a hand on Dorothy's head and carefully pet her. Dorothy felt calm like this, and somehow, she began to purr.
"Ha-ha, that's rich, good one guys." Alex said trying to sound and convincing as possible though he did find this completely hilarious.
"I know Alex, anyways, wait a minute isn't that Dorothy's?" Mr. Teak asked referring to the scepter.
"Oh, yes, I'm sure Dorothy accidentally left it here when she was helping someone, come on, let's go back to the farmhouse, I'll make us some cider." Em said leading the teaks out of the cornfield.
Ellie walked over to the scepter and picked it up. Alex came over and picked up Annabella. Donna led her uncle back towards the farmhouse carrying a basket of corn. Mrs. Pryce took her husband's arm and draped it over her shoulder. She supported him and led him out of the field after Donna.
"You know Dorothy, you do make a cute cat." Alex said.
"Thanks." Dorothy said as Annabella looked down at her and giggled.
"Glinda, the scepter, it's like all the power has left it." Ellie said worriedly.
"I know, it will remain like that until Dorothy becomes human again." Glinda said sadly.
"That means, no protection from his wrath." Ellie stated.
"Not exactly, he didn't intend to harm Dorothy, if he had, then my spell would have broken the dome, but it did not, so he knew what he was doing." Glinda said sadly.
"Oh, well then, come on ace." Ellie said walking over to Aislynn and taking her hand.
"Dorothy, Jessica and Jenny wanted to see you, but now, well I'm not sure that's a good idea." Aislynn said.
Dorothy nodded and followed everyone else out of the cornfield. When they reached the farmhouse Aislynn picked Dorothy up and carried her the rest of the way until they were inside the farmhouse. Alex set Annabella on the floor. Aislynn did the same with Dorothy. Dorothy looked around the room, she saw everyone who had been in the cornfield with her now sitting in the living room in the couches and armchairs. Jessica and jenny were standing, for some strange reason dusting everything in sight. Dorothy knew that she should try to avoid talking for as long as possible. The door then opened again and Officer Grey came in,
"Whose cat is this?" he asked leaning over and scratching Dorothy behind the ears.
With that word, "Cat." Toto ran into the room barking. He caught sight of Dorothy and barked extremely loudly and growled. Dorothy jumped and ran. Toto barked and ran after her.
"Toto NO! Stop, it's me Dorothy!" Dorothy shouted jumping up onto the dining room table.
Toto stopped and looked at Dorothy tilting his head to the side confused. She looked at the living room, everyone was looking at her wide eyed. Mr. Pryce had now fainted completely. Mr. and Mrs. Teak were looking at her wide-eyed. They had dropped the cups they were holding and they shattered on the floor. Jenny and Jessica, now broken from the amazement instinctively ran over to clean it up.
"Toto, it's me Dorothy, the jester turned me into a cat, that's why I look like this." Dorothy said.
Toto looked at her and whimpered. She jumped off the table and he sniffed her for a bit. He barked happily and licked Dorothy. Then stuck his tongue out in disgust having just licked a cat on the face.
"S-s-so y-y-you w-w-were t-telling the t-t-truth?" Mrs. Teak finally stuttered out.
"Sadly yes." Glinda said sighing.
Mrs. Teak slumped back in the chair and fainted. Mr. Teak was fanning his wife trying to revive her.
"I think we need a bit of a vacation, Alexander, would you mind watching Annabella and Alex for a week or two since you have no side projects and the school is closed?" Mr. Teak asked curiously.
"Sorry, but because of Donna's parents being away buying things in bulk I would only be able to take one of them." Mr. Alistair said sadly.
"Well when will Donna's parents be back?" Mr. Teak asked curiously.
"Maybe a month this time, they're heading off to the state line for lord knows what." Mr. Alistair said wiping his brow.
"We could watch them." Jessica offered.
"And who are you?" Mr. Teak asked curiously.
"Mr. and Mrs. Teak, this is Jessica, the other girl is Jenny, they are Aislynn's maids." Dorothy said walking over.
"Gosh I am not going to get used to that." Mr. Teak said.
"We'd be happy to have them since ace tends to stay here more often than her own house." Jenny said as Mrs. Teak began to come too.
"Can we trust them?" Mrs. Teak asked, somehow being aware of the conversation.
"Me, I'd trust them with my life if it all came down to it." Dorothy said.
"I know, I just had an idea, how about if Aislynn, Dorothy and Ellie come with us to help watch them?" Jenny asked curiously.
"That's not a bad Idea but remember jenny dear, Dorothy is supposed to be getting punished remember?" Jessica asked curiously.
"Her punishment was that she wasn't allowed to leave the house for anything but school, but because school is no longer part of the equation I don't think it matters at this point, don't you agree Emily?" Mr. Alistair asked Dorothy's aunt.
"Why do you refer to my aunt by her full name?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It's called being serious dear, Henry and I grew up with the Alistair's, as did, well I can't say it without upsetting you." Em said, "And Mr. Alistair has a good point henry, she can't really go anywhere, and we can't really do anything about it." She added.
"I guess that's a fair point Em, but are you sure it's a good idea?" Henry asked curiously.
"Oh don't worry she'll be perfectly safe." Jenny said assuredly.
"That's not what I'm worried about." Henry said sighing.
"Then what?" Dorothy asked finally cutting into the conversation again.
"It's just that I really don't approve of my niece being a cat." Henry said.
"Oh, yea, I understand that." Jenny said nodding.
"Glinda are you sure there is nothing you can do?" Ellie asked looking at her sister worriedly.
"I can go home and check my books, I'll even have Alison look up some things, but I don't want to get your hopes up." Glinda said sighing.
"Then do it, I want my best friend back to normal." Ellie said sternly.
Glinda looked at her sister in surprise. Her face then dropped again and she waved her own wand and vanished.
"I'm not sure I can take much more of this either." Alex said sitting down.
"Don't worry, you get used to it after a while." Donna said.
"How long?" Alex asked curiously.
"How long what?" Donna replied.
"How long have you truly known about all of this?" Alex asked.
"A little more than a year, trust me, it can become a little too much to bear every now again but like I said you get used to it, isn't that right Uncle Alexander?" Donna asked referring to Mr. Alistair.
"You mean, you've all known? Jeez I knew there was something strange going on but I didn't know, is there a place I can lie down for a bit?" Alex asked curiously.
"why don't you go back to the car Alex, we'll be there in a minute with Annabella to go home and get your things packed, I think we should accept Ms. Jenny's and Ms. Jessica's proposition." Mrs. Teak said finally coming to her senses completely.
"I agree, but where will we go?" Mr. Teak asked.
"The summer cottage? The one down state? We do need to shut it down and get it ready for the winter at some point, you guys can do that after your done relaxing." Alex suggested before walking out of the house.
"That's not a bad idea actually, what do you think dear?" Mr. Teak asked looking at his wife.
"I think it's a plan, can you two pick them up tomorrow?" Mrs. Teak asked curiously.
"If you give us an address then yes, Mr. and Mrs. Gale, what about Dorothy and company?" Jessica asked.
"I guess they can go, but can they go tonight?" Henry asked curiously.
"Sure, do you want us to take Toto as well?" Jenny asked.
"Jenny dear, do you really have to ask that?" Jessica asked curiously/
"I would assume no but it's always safe to ask." Jenny replied.
"Fair enough." Jessica replied.
"Well the answer is yes." Henry said.
"Right, so just give us some time to pack, well give me some time to pack, Aislynn still has clothes at the manor." Ellie said running off to the room she was staying in.
"What about Ellie's parents will they approve?" Mr. Alistair asked sounding concerned.
"As long as Dorothy's with her they tend to approve, not to mention that she spends more time home than not." Em said.
"Fair enough, anyways here's the address for the teak's residence." Mr. Alistair said handing the maids a piece of paper.
"Thanks alexander, come on dear, let's grab Annabella and head home." Mr. Teak said getting up and walking over to Annabella and picking her up.
"Bye." Annabella said waving.
Everyone chuckled and Mr. Teak walked out followed by his wife shortly after. Henry then got up and walked out of the farmhouse.
"I think I should go assist some people in the fields, Em could you go find a basket so that they have something to carry Dorothy in?" Henry asked walking out.
"But I don't want to travel in a basket." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, I'm sorry but I'm afraid you need to." Em said sadly.
Em sighed and walked over to a nearby closet and pulled out a picnic basket, Dorothy knew it well but never thought she would see it again. It was the basket she used to carry Toto in when she first got him. Now the roles would be changed and she would be carried in it. Em set it on the ground and opened one of the sides and Dorothy climbed in. she sighed and stuck her head out of the basket and tried to get comfortable. She was beginning to not like this already. By the time she managed to find a comfortable position Ellie had already gotten her stuff ready and the basket was being carried to Jessica's car. She sighed and lay down in the basket. This was going to take some getting used to.
Well Dorothy's in a bit of a pickle isn't she? How will she find a way to cope with it? and more importantly, how far will Glinda try to go to change her back? Find out in the next few installments.