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"It's good to see you again too Roquat, you look well, why couldn't you warn me you were going to bring us here with magic?" Glinda asked curiously, she then set Dorothy on the floor.
"Oh Glinda you know me well enough, I, as you know, am a king, I'm allowed to have my fun every now and again." He said taking a puff from his pipe.
"Excuse me, Mr. Nome King, sir, do you mind if I take my friends, back to the little waiting room?" Ellie asked referring to Aislynn, Donna, Kelly, Alex, Finley, and Annabella.
"All of you but the Boy, the kitten, and Glinda may go, please wait outside if you must." He said waving them away.
Alex frowned and handed Annabella off to Donna. She frowned as well and looked up at the Nome King she then sighed and walked out with everyone else.
"Why must he stay?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Oh no reason really Ms. Gale, I just don't want this to be really one sided with all girls." He said waving a hand, causing a stone table and chairs to appear, "Please, take a seat." He added getting up.
As he approached Dorothy was able to get a better look at him. He was really tall, at least a few inches taller than the scarecrow himself. She could make out that he had greyish green colored eyes. He had a kind face, but at the same time it was one that said, stay away from me if I get angry. He smoked the pipe and blew some rings of smoke from it as he walked down the steps from his throne. His robe Dorothy could now see was completely grey like the rest of him. He chuckled and sat down at the table. Glinda rummaged through her pockets and pulled out a sack which she placed in front of him. He opened it and looked inside. He chuckled and pulled out an emerald of highest quality and cut.
"You must be really desperate for help this time Glinda, but I must warn you, I have my limitations, we are just as much under siege as you guys are." The Nome king said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Glinda asked curiously.
"The jester, he is draining energy from my kingdom, it is taking all my power to keep the mountain from collapsing in on itself." The Nome King said as the mountain shook a bit.
"The wicked man, I should have known Oz wasn't his only source of power." Glinda said snapping her fingers.
"Yes, well anyways, now to the matter at hand, or paw I guess." He said referring to Dorothy.
"Not funny Roquat, I need to see if you can change her back." Glinda said sternly.
"I will try, but I sense greater magic's than mine at work with this transformation." He said looking at Dorothy.
He took the pipe from his mouth and set it on the table. He then held out a hand palm out towards Dorothy. His hand began to glow a wonderful golden color, Dorothy shimmered a bit but nothing happened. The Nome king sighed and fell back limply.
"He was telling the truth then, only he can lift it." Glinda said seeing what happened.
"I, I have not had a spell do that to me since, since you tried that spell so many years ago." He said catching his breath and sitting up.
"It also means he's more powerful now than you or I ever imagined." Glinda said worriedly
"I know and that's what worries me, now we have an issue, but I have a proposition, because I have a military advantage." He said chuckling.
"And what's that?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"We live underground, we can spring up out of nowhere from our little hideouts between Oz and here." He said picking up his pipe and placing it back in his mouth puffing out a few rings out above his head.
"As I am not the subject of this war I am afraid that is not my decision." Glinda said sighing.
"Well then, Ms. Gale?" The Nome King asked looking at her.
"I'd have to discuss it with the scarecrow." Dorothy said.
"Well then, let's have him be brought." He said snapping his fingers.
There was a bright flash and a clap of thunder. The scarecrow was standing in the middle of the table holding Aislynn's. Aislynn was reading a book when they were summoned. She looked around and gasped when she saw the Nome king.
"Where are we?" The scarecrow asked looking around the room curiously.
"The Nome King's mountain." Dorothy said.
"Oh." He said as his eyes fell on the Nome King.
"Greetings your majesty, it is good to meet the ruler of Oz at last." He said snapping his fingers again causing them both to appear around the table in chairs.
"Is there anything he can do about Dorothy's transformation?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Sadly no, but that's not why you guys are here, it wasn't even intended that you end up here Aislynn." Glinda said sadly.
"Why are we here then?" Scarecrow asked curiously.
"The Nome king wants to Ally with us." Glinda said.
The mountain then shook greatly and the Nome King raised his hands and the shaking stopped. Pebbles fell from ceiling of the cavern and on to the table.
"What's going on?" Scarecrow asked.
"It's ME!" Came the voice of the jester echoing from the cavern walls.
"Oh sweet Oz." The scarecrow said now frightened.
"Yes, now Rocky, why don't you just step away from them and join me, the one who's taking your power." The jester said chuckling.
"Beast of Darkness, cease your torment, I will not join you for I know I cannot trust you, just as your sister's betrayed me." He said angrily bringing his fist down on the table making Aislynn jump and hug the scarecrow tightly
There was a brief silence, there was sigh of frustration.
"Ah Roquat, you are such a disappointment, just like you were to my sister's." He said.
"They took my powers for granted, and now you are draining power from my land like your sisters did." The Nome king shouted raising a hand making a clap of thunder happen and the room fell silent.
"He's been at that for days, trying to get me to join in exchange for stopping using my lands power." He said sighing.
"And his sister's did the same thing?" Glinda asked surprised.
"I gave the witch of the west her crystal ball, the Witch of the east her ruby slippers, which I know are lost." He said placing a hand on his forehead.
"Your majesty, I would like to form the alliance." Dorothy said looking over to the scarecrow.
"I agree Dorothy." Scarecrow said nodding.
"I think as many allies are as good as possible in a war." Alex said finally joining the happenings.
"Thanks alex." Dorothy said.
"Well then, do we have a deal?" the Nome king asked producing a scroll from thin air and handing it to the scarecrow.
He opened it and read through it. Aislynn got up from her seat looked over the scarecrow's shoulder as she read it herself. Dorothy looked at Glinda and then Alex. The scarecrow put out his hand to Glinda who immediately produced a quill pen.
"It's completely flawless a plan." Aislynn said as the scarecrow signed the scroll.
"Thank you." Glinda said to Aislynn.
"And just so there are no betrayals this contract will be bound by magic, if one of us breaks it that person shall perish." He said referring to the scroll.
"Yep, that's a clause." The scarecrow said finishing the signature and handing the pen and scroll to the king who signed it immediately and handed it to Glinda.
She took out her wand and waved it over the contract and both it and the pen vanished. She looked at the Nome king and smiled. He smiled back and got up.
"I assume you want you and your companions to be returned to where you began?" The Nome King asked curiously.
"That would be nice, also I think we will be having a war council in a few more days, will you be attending?" Glinda asked.
"I shall, and my beautiful Glinda, I hope that we will find a way to bring down the jester." He said clapping his hands twice causing an opening to reappear.
"I hope so as well." Glinda said.
"Yes, go into the waiting room, I'll shall prepare to send you and your associates back to Oz." he said firmly.
They all got up and walked out, first Glinda followed by the scarecrow and Ace, then Dorothy and Alex. As Alex reached the opening the Nome king appeared behind him and place a hand on his shoulder. Dorothy looked back and saw this.
"Run along my dear, I just want to say something to him quickly." The Nome King said.
Dorothy nodded and walked along, as soon as the Nome King knew the girl was farther off he took Alex to the side.
"You wanted something your majesty?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes, I've seen the way you talk to her, the way you look at her, do you love Dorothy?" He asked curiously.
Alex went pale for a second but regained his composure. He looked at the Nome king and finally stuttered out.
"N-no Sir." He said nervously.
"Look, I know your lying, you love her or at least have a crush on her, is that correct?" The Nome king asked curiously.
"Yes sir." Alex said sighing.
"Good boy, she's a good kid, if it weren't for her destroying the wicked witches I would have lost my kingdom." He said chuckling," now run along and join your friends." He said patting him firmly on the back.
Alex nodded and ran down the passage. He found himself back in the waiting room with everyone else. They looked at him curiously.
"What did the King want?" Donna asked curiously.
Alex sighed.
"Nothing important, just wanted to thank me for being kind." He said.
Dorothy looked over Toto who was sitting next to Ellie who was now holding Annabella. The next thing they all knew they were standing back in Dorothy's Emerald City bedroom. Dorothy looked around as did Toto. They were all confused about what happened. Finley who hadn't said anything the entire time finally fainted on the floor. Ellie set Annabella on the floor and walked over to Finley and picked him up. She sighed and brought him out of the room.
"Glinda, take everyone out of here, I think I need a lie down." Dorothy said jumping up on her bed.
Annabella yawned loudly, Alex and Donna chuckled.
"I think you need a quick nap then we can return back to the diggs residence." Donna said walking over and picking her up.
"Glinda do you have a crib or a cradle around here somewhere?" Alex asked curiously.
"No, but I can make one." Glinda said waving her wand making one appear next to Dorothy's bed.
"Does it have to be in here?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes." Glinda said sternly making them all jump.
"Okay, okay, no need to snap it's just a question." Alex said in defense as Donna put Annabella in the cradle.
"Have a nice rest you two." Aislynn said walking out with the scarecrow.
"Thanks, Glinda, would you mind leaving? Alex, Donna, Kelly you as well?" Dorothy asked.
"Sure thing Dorothy." Donna said grabbing Kelly's hand and dragging her out, Alex following close behind.
Dorothy looked at Annabella in the cradle, she had quickly fallen asleep. She sighed and laid down on her bed. Toto then whimpered and walked out of the room. It wasn't long before Dorothy found herself falling asleep.
Meanwhile in the throne room.
Glinda, Donna, Ellie, Kelly and Alex were sitting around playing with Toto and Ellie's red ball.
"You know some times I wonder why I still carry this thing." Ellie said.
"Well, for amusement I'd assume Ellie." Glinda said sitting down on the throne and catching the ball as it came to her.
Toto walked over to Glinda and barked. He then walked over to Ellie and pawed at one of her shoes.
"What's he doing?" Alex asked curiously as the ball was tossed over to him.
"For some strange reason he likes toying around with my shoes." Ellie said sitting down and pulling off her shoes and surrendering them.
"strange." Alex said tossing the ball to Donna.
"Eh like I said, strange things, you get used to it." Donna said bouncing the ball against the floor to Kelly.
"Yea, what Sissy said?" Kelly said bouncing the ball against the floor and it bounced towards Ellie.
Ellie caught the ball and bounced it off one of the walls. She looked at Toto and chuckled as she watched the dog playing with her shoes as if in some sort of trance.
"I wonder when Annabella will wake up." Glinda asked curiously.
"Not for another hour at most, she was up pretty early." Alex said getting up.
They all sighed and spent most of the time sending the ball back and forth between each other. That is until Ellie had an idea.
"You guys, why don't we find some better way to occupy our time, I mean sure Glinda has to keep her spell bound to keep both us and the Nome Kings mountain safe, but surely we can find something else to do." Ellie said catching the ball and pocketing it.
"Ellie's right Donna, we need to find something better to do than sit around and toss around a small, shiny red ball." Alex said getting up and looking at his cousins.
"But what can we do? I mean, we're not Aislynn who keeps herself amused through reading." Donna said getting up then helping her sister up.
"Hey don't make fun of her for that." Ellie said retrieving her shoes from Toto.
"Sorry Ellie." Donna said smiling and giggling.
"Right well Donna's right, what can we do?" Alex asked curiously.
"Here's an idea, why don't you guys go outside, I'm sure you find something to do, or even better, a side project, I know you've been making something to give to Dorothy, why don't you have these guys help you with it?" Glinda asked curiously
"No, no it's not important." Ellie said putting her shoes on.
"I think Glinda had the right idea, let's go outside, I'd like to do some sightseeing." Donna said walking towards the door.
"Actually that does sound good, why don't I show you the Royal gardens, Ellie said running over to Donna and grabbing her hand and dragging both her and Kelly out.
Donna pulled out of Ellie's grasp and looked back at Alex.
"Aren't you coming?" Donna asked curiously.
"No, no thank, I don't like gardens, they're just a bit girly." Alex said with a frustrated sighing.
"Hey I resent that." Glinda said from the throne.
"Oh no offense Glinda, I've just never liked a garden." Alex said sitting back down and sighing
"Suit yourself, come on Kelly." Donna said dragging her sister along in her wake.
Alex sighed and got up again. He walked over to the window and looked out it from the sill. He looked at the sill for a minute and a thought popped into his mind
"Hey Glinda?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes alex?" Glinda asked?
"Is there enough room on this sill for someone to sit on?" Alex asked.
"Alex if you push yourself over the edge and look down you'll notice a ledge that's large enough for a few people to stand on side by side comfortable, so yes." Glinda said.
Alex placed his palms down against the sill and pushed himself up. after a few minutes he was sitting on the outer ledge with his legs dangling over the side. He looked at the Land of Oz and sighed it was truly beautiful, strange yet beautiful. He then had the sensation of the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He knew in an instant that he was being watched he turned around and saw Dorothy, sitting looking at Alex with a curious look. She then walked over to the window and jumped up on the sill.
"Annabella awake?" Alex asked about to get up.
"Yep, but don't worry, Glinda's getting her." Dorothy said jumping down onto the ledge and sitting next to Alex.
"Be careful on here, you could fall." Alex said looking concerned.
"Cats always land on their feet don't they?" Dorothy asked giggling.
"Fair enough, anyways how was your, Cat Nap?" he asked trying to repress a chuckle at his own joke.
Dorothy swiped at him with one of her paws and meowed.
"I resent all cat jokes at the moment, and remember I do have claw." Dorothy said sternly.
"Sorry Dorothy, please don't scold me though, I hate that." Alex said smiling and scratching Dorothy behind the ear.
Dorothy purred in content, she enjoyed being scratched behind the ears now, similar to Toto who was sitting on the floor inside the throne room.
"you know some times when I just wanted to relax I just sort of climbed up here, no one really approved of it for fear that I would fall." Dorothy said giggling.
"I can imagine, it's a beautiful view though." Alex said smiling.
Dorothy wanted to crack a smile but she knew it was hopeless, she decided on rubbing her head against his side would suffice to say that she agreed with him completely.
"Dorothy! Come inside this minute, you too Alex!" came the voice of scarecrow.
"Oh scarecrow we aren't doing anything dangerous." Dorothy said turning around to face one her best friends who was also accompanied by Aislynn.
"Yea straw man, it's not like were dancing the Charleston up here." Alex said.
"Alex please shut up." Dorothy said, knowing if she had a hand she would have cupped it over his mouth at this point.
"Sorry." He said getting up and climbing back into the room.
Dorothy jumped back up on the sill and into the throne room. Glinda then came into the room cradling Annabella in her arms.
"Oh you two came in so soon?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Wait you actually approved of them being on the outer ledge!?" Scarecrow asked sounding surprised.
"Yes, I mean we've established it's only dangerous if you're walking around up there and not watching what you're doing, so why not?" Glinda asked looking at the scarecrow.
"Well what if one of them accidentally slipped and fell off?" Aislynn asked in turn now expressing concern.
"Ace, one that would never happen especially if one is sitting firmly on the ledge, two Dorothy is a cat so she would at least land on her feet." Glinda said handing Annabella off to Alex.
Annabella wrapped her arms tightly around her brother's neck and giggled. She then signaled that she wanted to be set down on the floor. Alex smiled and did this, Annabella then pushed herself to her feet and looked around, her gaze finally fell on Dorothy and she literally took off in a bit of a jog at her. Alex, Dorothy, Aislynn, and even Glinda gasped in surprise at this. Annabella then stopped just short of Dorothy and picked her up. She then walked all the way back over to Alex.
"Oh my stars, she actually did it, she ran and walked, isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" Glinda asked now slightly confused.
"No, not always." Alex said chuckling.
"And all because she wanted to hold me I guess." Dorothy said giggling.
"Yea, that's not bad, thanks for being a cat so that she had motivation." Alex said kneeling down and scratching Dorothy behind the ears again.
"No problem, not like I have any alternatives." Dorothy said.
"Hey, you know what, where are the others? Why don't you surprise them with this news?" Aislynn asked looking at them.
"The royal gardens, Alex, here's the plan I'll lead you into the garden, then Annabella when I wave you will run into the garden is that understood?" Glinda asked.
"Understood." Annabella said setting Dorothy down on the floor.
"Good, come on, follow me the royal garden and courtyard is this way." Glinda said leading them out of the throne room.
Meanwhile in the garden.
Ellie and Donna had spent their time in the garden making flower wreaths, Kelly was talking to the china princess who was writing down what flowers should be in the garden next and how they should be arranged.
"And that's how you do it." Ellie said showing Donna the flower wreath that she had made.
"Who taught you how to do this?" Donna asked curiously.
"The princess." Ellie said referring to the china princess.
"Oh wow." Donna said surprised.
"So this is the garden? I like the other way you explained it, it is more of a court yard." Came the voice of Alex.
Donna looked around and saw her cousin and Glinda walking towards them.
"So got lonely didn't you?" Donna asked teasingly.
"Nope, just bored, and… wow you made a wreath." Alex said referring to the wreath that Ellie was holding.
"Yep, and if Dorothy weren't a cat I'm sure she would do the same" Ellie said giggling.
"Is Annabella awake yet?" Kelly asked taking notice that Alex was there.
"Yes." Glinda said making a brief wave behind her.
Annabella then ran into the courtyard laughing happily. Donna gasped as did Ellie and Kelly.
"Annabella, my god slow down, you could trip." Donna said still amazed.
Annabella giggled and ran up to Donna and hugged her legs tightly, knocking over Donna onto her backsides. They all shared a laugh at this as Donna and Annabella got up. Donna dusted herself off as Aislynn, Dorothy, Toto, and Scarecrow walked into the courtyard.
"You know, I should probably be sending you guys back soon." Glinda said finally managing to say after they had stopped laughing.
"Awe, but I want to show them around some more, maybe even take them to the business district." Ellie said in a complaining tone.
"Maybe later Ellie, but you guys should really get ready to go back." Glinda said smiling.
"Awe sis, couldn't we stay the night? Maybe we could work together to find a spell to lift Dorothy's transformation." Ellie said.
"Ellie, even if that was possible we would need to search through even forbidden magic's." Glinda said placing a hand under her sister's chin.
"Fine, I'll go get the basket to carry Dorothy and Toto in." Ellie said in defeat.
Ellie began to sulk and walked back into the city. Dorothy looked at Glinda sadly.
"Do I really still have to travel in that thing?" Dorothy asked as Toto barked curiously as well.
"Sorry Dorothy, there isn't another way which I can transport you." Glinda said walking over to Dorothy and kneeling down to face her.
"I could carry her?" Alex offered.
"Are you sure? I mean you'd have to have a pretty tight grip on her, and from experience I know that is a difficult task." Glinda said quite concerned.
"Alex, I think I'd rather risk being thrown from the basket again thanks." Dorothy said.
"Suit yourself." Alex said as Ellie ran in with the basket.
Ellie looked at Dorothy sadly and opened the basket setting it on the ground. Toto looked at the basket and climbed in first and then Dorothy followed. Ellie then put the lid on the basket and Dorothy closed her eyes. Soon enough the basket swung backwards. She was immediately thrown into Toto.
"Ouch." He said
"Sorry." Dorothy said.
"We should be home soon so hold on." He said as the basket swung backwards and abruptly forward.
Dorothy was thrown from the basket and landed on the floor of the Manor. She was immediately picked up by Alex and set up right. She knew this would take some getting used to as well.
Well this seemed like a good stopping point.
also to answer an Old question, where i got Ellie's name came from. Ellies name is borrowed from the Russian adaption of the wizard of oz by Alexander volkov. but the version of the character is entirely my own