Disclaimer, the usual.
Dinner was silent, neither Dorothy, nor any of the others talked. Toto tried to engage in conversation with Dorothy twice afterwards but Dorothy wasn't really in the mood. Everyone turned in for bed early that night. Dorothy slept on the couch in the parlor, she was the first to awake, as far as she could tell. She stood up and stretched. She looked around, it was weird, and it was obvious that it was still dark out but she could still see. She shook her head a few times then jumped down from the couch.
"Good morning Dorothy." Came a yawning voice from Toto.
"Morning Toto, sleep well?" Dorothy asked.
"As always, you?" Toto asked curiously.
"Surprisingly comfortable but yes." Dorothy said.
"You'll find that being an animal can surprise you a bit." Toto said walking over to Dorothy and shaking himself off a bit.
"Toto, would you… wait someone else is awake." Dorothy said, as her ears and Toto's ears both perked up.
"I wonder if anyone else is awake." Came the voice of Aislynn.
"Ace is awake." Dorothy said.
"You heard that?" Toto asked.
"Yes, is that how animals hear things?" Dorothy asked.
"It's how I know when you're awake or on your way home." Toto said happily.
"How about we go and say good morning?" Dorothy asked.
"I think she's coming to say good morning to us, listen." Toto said perking his ears up.
Dorothy perked up her own ears and listened. She heard the sound of footsteps moving around, but there was more than one set of feet. She was beginning to get a slight headache having to hear all this so she tuned it out and went back to talking with Toto.
"How do you deal with all the noise?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Eventually our brains just start tuning things out unless we want to hear it, other than that life is one big headache." Toto said as Jessica entered the room with a wooden bowl full of tuna and a saucer of milk.
"Well Dorothy, here's your breakfast, Toto come on boy, let's get you something to eat." Jessica said placing the bowl and plate on the floor.
"Well, have a good breakfast, see you in a few minutes." Toto said smiling.
"Thanks boy." Dorothy said.
Toto nodded and walked out following Jessica out of the parlor. Dorothy sighed and started eating the tuna. She was beginning to get a taste for tuna. After a few minutes she had gobbled down the tuna she went to the saucer of milk and started lapping it up. When she was content and had her fill she walked out of the parlor and to the kitchen. When she got there she found Toto gnawing on what looked like a cold chicken leg. She chuckled a bit and walked over to where Ellie and Aislynn were now eating breakfast. She jumped up on the table and sat down.
"Morning Dorothy." Ellie said tiredly.
"Morning Ellie, morning ace." Dorothy said happily.
"How was your sleep?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"I slept well." Dorothy said happily.
"same." Aislynn said happily
"I didn't sleep a wink." Ellie said yawning.
"Why not Ellie?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Because I've been worried." Ellie replied.
"Ellie you should go get some more rest." Dorothy said.
"No, I'll be fine Dorothy, Jenny's gone to get Alex, Annabella, Donna and Kelly as well." Ellie said.
"Do you think Alex will be able to handle oz.?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Nope, but it will be funny" Ellie said chuckling.
Aislynn and Dorothy glared at her. Dorothy did her best to glare as a cat could. Ellie shrunk back and went back to eating her breakfast. Dorothy sniffed and jumped off the table. She then walked over to Toto who looked up and barked. Then he opened his mouth to speak to her.
"You want some?" he asked curiously.
"No thanks Toto. I was content with the tuna, besides, I don't like cold chicken." Dorothy said chuckling.
"Could be worse, could be cold turkey" he said.
Dorothy couldn't help but snicker at this remark. She sniffed again and walked out of the kitchen and too the parlor to await the return of Jenny. She jumped up on the couch by the window to keep an eye out and sat on the sill. Soon she found herself getting comfortable and she drifted off to sleep. She was sharply awoken about an hour later by the sound of an umbrella stand clattering over.
"Sorry." Came Alex's voice from outside the parlor.
Dorothy jumped from the sill, onto the couch and then onto the floor. She took a few laps from the saucer of milk and walked into the main hall. She immediately saw Donna, jenny and Kelly picking up some things from the umbrella stand. She saw Alex sitting on the stairs with Annabella. She chuckled and walked over to them. When she got over to them she found that Annabella was asleep in her brother's arms. She coughed but it sounded more like an odd squeak. Alex looked over to her and smiled weakly.
"Morning dorothy." Alex whispered.
"Morning Alex." She said quietly.
"Dorothy, Donna said something about Oz on the way here, are you going somewhere?" Alex asked curiously.
"Well sort of, I'll explain later." Dorothy said.
She then looked at Annabella, her eyes began to flutter and opened. She looked at the cat in front of her and giggled.
"Dorothy!" she shrieked trying to wiggle out of her brother's arm.
"Alex please put her down, I'm anticipating a tight hug." Dorothy said chuckling.
Alex smiled and set down his younger sister on the stairs. She leaned over and pulled Dorothy into a tight hug. Dorothy wheezed a bit and Annabella released her.
"Good, morning, Annabella." Dorothy said trying to catch her breath.
"Dorothy, there you are, we were wondering where you got to." Jessica said running into the room.
"I've been sitting in the window in the parlor waiting for these guys." Dorothy said.
"Oh, well then, I hope you kept yourself amused are the bowls still in the parlor?" Jessica asked curiously.
"Yes, and I'm done with them, would you mind clearing them up before someone steps on them?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Sure thing." Jessica said as Donna and Kelly ran over.
"Dorothy, are we really going?" Donna asked excitedly.
"What does she mean?" Alex asked curiously.
"What Dona talking bout?" Annabella asked curiously.
"I'll explain later, or in a few minutes that depends." Dorothy said as Ellie and Aislynn walked into the room.
Dorothy sighed when she saw Aislynn carrying the picnic basket. She really didn't want to travel in that thing but she knew it was inevitable.
"Dorothy, we'll be departing in a minute, you need to get in the basket according to Glinda." Aislynn said.
Dorothy sighed and walked over to Aislynn who set down the basket. She opened it and Dorothy noticed that Toto was also in the basket.
"They made me get in here, it's a bit cramped in here." Toto said being uncomfortable.
"I would imagine so." Dorothy said climbing in.
"What was that all about?" Alex asked curiously.
"Dorothy and Toto are able to communicate." Ellie said.
"Neat!" Alex said excitedly.
"Alex, I'll take Annabella, you take my hand as well, and Donna you take Aislynn's hand and hold onto Kelly's tightly." Ellie commanded picking up Annabella and taking Alex's hand tightly.
"Oi let go of me, what's about to happen?" Alex asked sounding concerned.
"You'll see." Ellie said chuckling.
Dorothy was about to say something when all of a sudden she felt the basket swing backwards and colors whizzing by. She began to feel dizzy and sick, she didn't like this sensation but at least she didn't lurch forward. All of a sudden she felt Toto smack right into her and the basket swung backwards and then suddenly forwards. They both were thrown from the basket and landed on the floor of the emerald city throne room. She looked around dizzily and saw Alex and the scarecrow running towards them.
"Dorothy are you okay?" they both asked in unison, Alex looked at the scarecrow and went pale, his mouth hanging open.
"Close your mouth Alex, unless you're going to be sick, in which case I'll go get a bucket." Glinda said walking over.
"I'm okay Alex, I think the better question is, how do you like Oz?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"I, I, I think I need a bucket." Alex said in the throne.
"So this is Oz? It's just as you said it was." Kelly said in awe.
"Glinda, take them to my room, take Ace to the library, find the others, it's time for a war council." Dorothy said sternly.
"Yes mam, Alex come on." She said making a metal bucket appear out of thin air and handed it to him.
He promptly vomited into it, the scarecrow looked at Glinda quizzically.
"I don't think we should try and get him to move, Ellie take the child, Donna and Kelly to Dorothy's room, keep them amused until we get there, and take Toto with you." Scarecrow said sternly.
Ellie saluted and lead them along out of the throne room. Alex continued to vomit into the bucket as a table appeared in the middle of the room. Dorothy ran over and jumped up on the chair at the head of the table as everyone filed in. wiser, China Princess, Marshall Mallow, Lion, Tin man, and scarecrow all took their places at the table. Dorothy tried to smile and looked at them. They chuckled and looked at her.
"You are one cute kitten Dorothy gale." The princess said giggling.
"I agree dear, but I think I liked her as a girl better." Marshall Mallow said leaning over and kissing his wife.
"I know, um whose the guy vomiting sitting in the throne?" The princess asked curiously.
"That's Alex, I'm sure Ellie or Ace mentioned him at the last meeting." Dorothy said.
"She did happen to mention a boy, didn't give a name though." Tin man said drumming his metallic fingers against the table thinking about it.
"Well that I'm assuming is him, he's a bit of a bully, but I'm trying to change him, make him better." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, are you sure?" Glinda asked walking back into the room.
"I am, even if it kills me on the inside, as soon as I'm human again it will be my first priority at home." Dorothy said.
"Fair enough, it's your decision." Glinda said.
"If you ask me, he's a keeper." The princess whispered giggling.
"Anyways, the jester's first real attack, and the first casualty." Glinda said referring to Dorothy.
"I think he just means to start a war, I say we find him and Tear him limb from limb!" The lion suggested pounding a fist on the table.
"Um as I've said many times, let's use brain, not brawn." The scarecrow said as they all heard the sound of metal hitting against the floor lightly.
They all turned to look at Alex who was wiping his mouth on his sleeve and walking over.
"I, I agree with the scarecrow, we need to think about this with tact." Alex said leaning against the chair Dorothy was in.
"Well spoken." Scarecrow said looking at him
"Nice Alex, you've impressed the scarecrow." Dorothy said looking up at him.
"Well think about it, if you guys just go into battle you'll get slaughtered, you need…" Alex said as Alyssa came in followed by a man.
"You need a battle plan." Alyssa and the boy said in unison.
"Hello Alyssa, who's your friend?" Dorothy asked teasingly.
"This, this is the leader of Locasta's army, locasta is the witch of the south, she's Glinda's cousin, this boy is Terrance, he and I are now dating." Alyssa said smiling and taking his hand.
"Congratulations on finding love, how's Elena on that subject?" Dorothy asked.
"Oh, she's the one who introduced me, all of Oz that hasn't been affected, even the winkies are joining us, preparing for war." Alyssa said as Elena walked up behind her and smiled.
"That's good, it's a start, but don't get your weapons ready right away, I want to try and take a passive approach." Dorothy said.
"I agree with Dorothy as well, there could be casualties if we jump straight into war." Alex said scratching Dorothy behind the ear making her purr.
"Thanks Alex, but there is no We, it's me he's after, not you guys, anyways, I'll never be able to kill someone, not on purpose." Dorothy said hanging her feline head in shame.
"Dorothy, you know that if it comes down to it the choice is yours, we will not influence it any more than we must." Glinda said sighing.
"Fair enough, well then I think this has gone on for long enough, War Council dismissed." Dorothy said jumping down from the chair and stretching.
"Dorothy, I don't even think you have it in you to kill, maim or general hit and harm, but never kill." Alex said picking her up.
For some strange reason Dorothy didn't mind being held by Alex. She purred for a bit and then he put her back down on the floor.
"Come on, I'll show you to my room." Dorothy said leading him off and out of the throne room.
Alex looked at the host of characters in the room and shrugged he then followed Dorothy out of the room. As she led him she constantly looked back to make sure he was following.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Alex asked curiously.
"I'm making sure you don't get distracted, when I'm human again I'll give you a proper tour." Dorothy said stopping and looking back at him.
"I think I'd like that." Alex said smiling.
"Trust me you will." Dorothy said chuckling.
"What?" he asked having gotten distracted.
"Oh never mind, come on we're almost there." Dorothy said trying to crack a smiled again, and failing miserably.
Alex shrugged and jogged to keep up pace soon they were at the door to Dorothy's room which was wide open. Ellie was sitting on the bed with Donna and Kelly, watching Toto and Annabella playing with each other. Dorothy made a meowing noise which attracted everyone's attention.
"Dorothy!" Annabella said pushing herself up and taking a few steps before falling on her behind again.
"What's that now? Eight steps?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes I think so." Ellie responded getting off the bed.
Dorothy and Alex both chuckled at this. Dorothy then walked over to Annabella and nuzzled her nose against Annabella's face making her giggle loudly. Ellie walked over and sat down next to them. Toto then walked over and sat next to Dorothy and opened his mouth to speak.
"She's a good kid, bit rough in terms playing, but her intentions are good." Toto said making Dorothy chuckle.
"What's so funny, did I miss a funny thing?" Alex asked walking over and chuckling.
"Toto said and I quote, she's a nice kid, bit rough in terms of playing, but her intentions are good." She said.
Alex chuckled and picked up his little sister and kissed her on the cheek. This surprised Ellie and made her gasp a bit. She wondered how a boy, one that she though was so bad, could do this, an act of kindness. Just then Finley flew into the room making Alex duck.
"Hello again Ellie, Aislynn, and strangers, I am Finley, and I would like you to know that while you're here in the emerald city I am at your service, even to that cat sitting next to Toto right there." Finley said landing on the ground and bowing.
"Finley, it's me, Dorothy." Dorothy said looked at the monkey.
Finley gasp and looked at the cat strangely.
"Was that you who said that?" Finley asked now a bit scared.
"Finley the jester attacked while we were in Kansas, Dorothy was turned into a cat as a result." Ellie said sighing.
"o-oh, I was told the jester was spotted again, but I didn't know Dorothy was a casualty, well at least she can still talk." Finley said trying to make heads or tails of it.
"Finley, just because I was attack, doesn't mean I want you to treat me any differently than you would if I were my old self." Dorothy said.
"Okay…" Finley said as a dove carrying a rock crashed through the window making everyone scream.
"Oh great, Glinda sent out Diana, the dumbest carrier dove we have." Ellie said.
Glinda then ran into the room with a concerned look, she saw the bird with the rock and sighed. She walked over to pick it up. Immediately a face grew on the rock and looked up at Glinda.
"Ah Miss Glinda, the Nome king will see you and your friends." The rock said.
"You know given my experiences recently this is just becoming semi-casual." Alex said setting down his little sister.
"Has he provided transport this time or do I have to do this all myself?" Glinda asked curiously.
No sooner had she said that, then they all found themselves in a cavern. Lit with torches Glinda chuckled, Alex looked down at his little sister who was looking around curiously.
"Where are we?" Ellie asked curiously.
"The Nome king's mountain, the waiting room actually." Glinda said.
"Glinda Upland, the Nome king will receive you and your friends now." Came a large booming voice, then a large opening in the room opened up before them in the rock.
Glinda sighed and picked up Dorothy and walked out, followed by Alex, Annabella and the rest of them. They were soon met with a man, he was tall, eccentric looking, he had a long grey beard that surrounded the majority of his face from the nose down, but you could clearly see a pipe sticking out of it, upon further inspection Dorothy noticed that he was as grey as the stone in the room. He looked down at Glinda chuckled.
"Ah, Glinda, it's good to see you again." He said in a deep serious voice, he then chuckled and lit his pipe with a burning red coal
Well this seemed like a good place for a cliff. Yes the Nome king is in the story now I'm debating whether or not to make him a future villain.