Disclaimer, you know it by now.
They drove for a few blocks before they got to the lake. It had a barrier created by the police, not just of her town, but of others as well. She saw her aunt and uncle, she saw to her surprise that they were talking to aislynn's maids. She then looked at Aislynn who looked extremely worried. Glinda herself looked uneasy as well. Officer grey then stopped his truck and got out. Everyone followed suit and then walked over towards the scene. Her aunt and uncle ran over to her and embraced her tightly. They then turned her around towards the seen. Dorothy noticed now in the middle of the frozen lake that there was a large hole cut in the middle and men fishing something out.
"What did they find?" Dorothy asked looking at her aunt.
"They didn't, that women over there however did, she's one of our old school friends" She said pointing over to an ambulance.
Dorothy looked and saw the women sitting there, she was pale as a sheet, and she looked like she had just seen her worst fear. She then noticed the men pulling something out of the hole. Dorothy then began to feel sick and faint. Alex walked over and helped her keep her posture. The body was then loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled over to the ambulance. Officer grey ran over and stopped them before they loaded it onto the ambulance and then signaled for Dorothy, and the rest of them to come over. When they approached they found that the body was now covered with a white sheet. She then saw Mr. Greene, he noticed her and walked over. His eyes never met hers but they stayed focused on Aislynn with a worried expression.
"What we found may shock you." He said slowly raising the sheet.
What they saw when the sheet was removed made even Dorothy look away. It was the body of Mr. Diggs, still in the condition it was in when he died. She felt even sicker. She looked away.
"Grandfather!" Aislynn screamed in fright.
"Yes, one by one, we've been finding the bodies, even the worker that was kidnapped was found, and he's still alive, just completely loony now." He said taking out a handkerchief and placing it against his mouth.
"This is your fault." Aislynn said tonelessly.
"What?" they all asked in unison.
"This is your fault Dorothy," She said still toneless but looking at Dorothy angrily.
"Aislynn, don't say that, what the jester did was not her fault." Jessica said wrapping her arms around Aislynn.
"Yes it is, if she hadn't made an enemy out of the jester in the first place then he wouldn't be here, he wouldn't have done this!" she screamed out.
"Aislynn Susan Diggs!" Jessica exclaimed in surprise.
Dorothy didn't know what to do at this point. Aislynn had a point, Dorothy had made an enemy out of the jester herself. And he had done this because of her, and all to get at her. Ellie and Alex looked at Dorothy and realized what she was thinking.
"Dorothy, don't you dare believe that for one second." Ellie said finally saying something.
"Ellie please be quiet." Glinda said.
"Glinda, please take them away from here." Em said.
"So, this is, your niece." The women said through shallow breaths.
"Yes Eliza, this is our niece Dorothy, and that's Alex, he's the teaks boy." She said referring to Alex.
"Ah, the only male descendant of the Alistair family to date." Eliza said chuckling.
"It's a pleasure to meet you mam, you know my family?" He asked curiously.
"I went to school with them, just like I went to school with the gales." She replied.
"Mrs. Johnson please, you need to relax, come on let's get her to the hospital." One of the officers said leading her away.
"Where did Glinda go?" Jenny asked finally gathering the sense to say something.
"You know where they probably went." Em said looking at Dorothy and Alex.
"Oh right, Dorothy, if I were you I'd leave ace alone for a few hours or up to a few days, after this, she's going to need a cool down." Jenny said.
"Right, anyways, I think I need a bucket, I'm beginning to feel a bit dizzy." Dorothy said as her head began to swim.
Dorothy looked at Alex and before she could even comprehend what was going on she fainted and was out like a light. She awoke maybe an hour later to find herself in her bedroom in the emerald city. The scepter floating within reach. She sat up and grabbed it and realized she was now no longer wearing her coat or her boots, but now in her usual dress. She got up and stretched a bit. She then noticed that her hair ribbon with her keys on it were sitting on the bed side table with a note attached.
"Figured these would come in handy, yours truly, Ellie." She read aloud.
She smiled and placed the keys around her neck, she then walked out of her room and immediately ran into Alyssa.
"Oh, Dorothy, I was just coming to check on you, it's good to see you back to normal completely." She said hugging Dorothy tightly.
"I know, how's Terrance?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"He's fine, he's in the chambers trying to help consul Aislynn, but she won't listen." Alyssa said worriedly.
"She won't, her maid said that she'll need a bit of a cool down." Dorothy said walking around Alyssa.
She then broke into a run, she ran as fast as her legs would allow her, and soon she was in the chambers. Everyone looked at her, she looked over at Aislynn who was sitting on the throne, her face stained with tears. She walked over to the scarecrow and hugged him tightly.
"Please, take her to the library, tell the others not to follow, she'll not want to be followed by anyone else." She whispered to him.
He said nothing, he merely nodded. He then walked over to Aislynn and took her hand. She went with him willingly. Taking only a moment to throw an angry look at Dorothy. She then followed the scarecrow out of the room. No one followed, they just looked at Dorothy curiously.
"Library?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes." Dorothy said looking at the door to the chambers.
"Dorothy, I know Aislynn is putting a lot of the blame on you, but you mustn't believe it, it isn't…" The china princess started to say before Dorothy raised a hand to cut her off.
"I've already heard this speech, but thank you princess." Dorothy said searching her pockets.
"What are you looking for?" Wiser asked walking into the room carrying tons of food.
"A pad of paper and a pen, I thought I might have one in my pockets, you guys celebrate Christmas here right?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Correct, ever since the wizard introduced it." Marshal Mallow said.
"Good, I want to make a list of things I can get you guys." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, you know we'll like anything you get us." Tin man said, everyone nodded in agreement.
"So you are the ever famous Dorothy gale." Terrance said walking over.
"Yes I am, and this is what I truly look like." She said curtseying.
"Oh right, Dorothy, your coat and boots are in your closet." Ellie said.
"Thanks Ellie, where's Elena?" Dorothy asked noticing that though Alyssa was now in the chambers that her sister was strangely absent.
"She's at Brianna's ice cream shop, even though its winter ice cream is still popular." Ellie said.
"Dorothy dear, why don't you go for a swim, I know the water in the pool has been warmed up for the winter months." Glinda said calmly.
Dorothy looked at Glinda and smiled. She then nodded and left the chambers. As soon as she was gone everyone gathered around the throne where Glinda now sat.
"I don't think she's listening." Alyssa said
"I know, she looks perfectly fine, but the eyes there's sadness and regret now." Glinda said.
"Well, she did make a powerful enemy out of the jester." Terrance said.
"Terrance, shut up." Alyssa said.
"Yes dear." He said hanging his head.
"But she still believes it's her fault that the jester is doing this, and though I won't deny that in a way, it is, I mean if your sister's were killed, and you got the chance to take power would you still be a little ticked off that it had to happen through their deaths, wouldn't you want at least a little scrap of revenge?" Alex asked curiously.
"Good point." The china princess said thinking about it.
"And yet she hides her sorrow by keeping a cheery mood, which reminds me, what should we get her for Christmas?" Ellie asked.
"Good question, what do you get a girl who does so much for others, yet hardly asks for anything in return?" The princess asked.
"Good point, what would she want more than anything in the world?" Ellie asked looking at Alex.
"To tell you the truth even I don't know." Alex said.
"Wait did you say truth?" Glinda asked.
"Glinda no, you know yourself that knowing the full truth about someone hurts." Ellie said.
Glinda was about to say something when Alison came in panting and wheezing. She had ran all the way there it seemed.
"Glinda, the spell, its spread, Munchkin River." She said before collapsing against the door to catch her breath.
"Oh sweet oz." Glinda said waving her hand towards the crystal ball.
It immediately began glowing and showed the munchkin river. Now grey and still as the munchkin city. She sight and walked towards the door where Dorothy was waiting worriedly.
"Glinda, No!" Dorothy said grabbing Glinda's wrist.
Glinda pulled out of Dorothy's grasp and looked at her sadly. She then started towards her room. Ellie, Alex and Dorothy following closely behind. They got to Glinda's room and she immediately walked over to the bookstand where the Grimmerie was sitting. Ellie saw the book and gasped.
"Glinda, that's not? Those spells are forbidden!" Ellie shouted.
"Ellie, there is one that is mean for the soul protection of Oz." Glinda said taking the book and walking out.
The scepter glowed brightly in the presence of the book now. Dorothy looked at Glinda worriedly, Alison then came in and whispered something to Ellie. She looked at her sister curiously.
"Ellie, as this spell I'm about to use will knock me unconscious for days, you must take my place as ruler over the northern domain while I am unable." Glinda said walking out of the room.
"Glinda!" Alison shouted.
Dorothy said not a word but she ran after Glinda. They walked along the way that she didn't recognize, and soon they were ascending a large spiraling flight of stairs. Soon Alison, Alex, and Ellie caught up to them and they arrived at what looked like the top of a tall tower.
"Sis, mom and dad would never approve of this!" Ellie screamed.
"Alison, take Ellie away from here!" Glinda shouted.
Ellie looked at her sister with a look that Dorothy was not accustom to seeing with Ellie. It was a look of fear. She reluctantly followed Alison down the stairs of the tower. Dorothy looked at Alex and signaled him to go as well. He nodded and ran after them. Glinda then conjured up a plinth and set the book down on it.
"Dorothy, once the spell is done I want you to take the Grimmerie back to my room." Glinda said opening the book.
"Glinda, I cannot allow you to do this, find another way, get the Nome king to help, just don't do this!" Dorothy shouted.
Glinda didn't respond, she just began reading out of the book in some language that Dorothy couldn't decipher. The clouds above them began darken as the spell was performed. Glinda's hands then began to glow. One with a blue light and the other with a sparkling yellow. The light began to rise and dance into the air. Her reading became a chant and the wind began to pick up. Dorothy shiver and ducked down. Shivering at both the feeling of the wind and the feeling of the stone against her bare feet. Glinda began chanting louder and faster as the lights began to glow brighter.
"Yes, the spell now binds, and soon it shall be complete!" came the voice of the jester in a whisper.
Dorothy looked up at Glinda who continued the chant, almost in an unbreakable trance. The wind then whipped around them both and the scepter began to glow brighter than ever. Dorothy closed her eyes and shivered, she then knelt down and tightened her grasp over the scepter. The chanting then stopped but the wind continued. Dorothy looked up to see Glinda floating about an inch off the ground, wisps of an emerald green light emanating from her body.
"In the name of the protection of Oz, I preform this spell for the first time, to protect this land for all that is in the name of good!" She shouted.
A surge of energy them erupted from her sending the shockwave to all four corners of Oz. the wind then began to die down. Dorothy then quickly got up and ran over to Glinda, catching her and she floated to the ground and collapsed unconscious. She let go of the scepter and used her free hand to grab the Grimmerie. Alex then ran back up the stairs and over to Dorothy. He then took Glinda from Dorothy and carefully set her down on the ground. Dorothy knelt down and placed her ear over Glinda's mouth. Her breathing had become shallow, but she was alive. She gave a sigh of relief as Elena and Alison ran up to them.
"Get her to the sickbay." Elena said sternly.
Alison quickly preformed a spell and her hands began to glow. She looked at Dorothy and smiled, she then looked over to the scepter to see its bright glow once again dim.
"Thank goodness you stayed up here, the scepters power protected both you and her from the full effects of being at the center point of the energy, she'll only be out for at least three days, at most a week" Alison said as her hands stopped glowing.
"That's a relief." Dorothy said as the scepter floated over to them.
Dorothy smiled and picked it up. She then got up and with the scepter and Grimmerie in hand she walked down the stairs of the tower followed by Alex. They were met halfway by Ellie who was sitting on the steps crying. Dorothy sat down next to Ellie and hugged her tightly.
"Go away!" Ellie shouted loudly.
"Dorothy, I think you'd best go back to the chambers." Alex said sighing.
Dorothy nodded and got up, she then walked down the rest of the stairs and retraced her steps to get back to Glinda's room.
Meanwhile at the jester's hideout.
The jester was laughing wickedly, dancing around the crystal ball.
"Now that was fun." He said chuckling and letting the crystal go dark.
He then looked over at the cauldron which was now bubbling. The mixture inside was now black as onyx and the color was beginning to change.
"Soon the mixture will be complete and when it turns bright gold by the years end I will add the final ingredient." He said cackling as lightning flashed behind him.
Meanwhile in the emerald city library.
Everyone who was in the emerald city felt the tremor of the blast. Nothing was damaged the scarecrow knew what the true cause was. He looked out the window worriedly as the clouds now finally returned to normal. He then looked at Aislynn who was still crying. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked in calming tone.
"I want something to read." She said not meeting his gaze.
Scarecrow sighed and walked over to the shelves. He then grabbed a book and brought it over to Aislynn. She quickly took it and began reading. Not saying a word.
"Where's Dorothy?" she asked trying to hold back her tears.
"I don't know, given what just happened she could be anywhere." He replied.
"I yelled at her, said that it was her fault for what happened, I feel bad about it now." She said.
"Yes, that will happen to people sometimes." He replied ruffling aislynn's hair.
Aislynn giggled and got up. She then hugged the scarecrow tightly.
"Can you go look for her, I want to apologize." She asked.
"Apology accepted." Dorothy said wiping tears from her own face.
"Dorothy! What's wrong?" Aislynn asked breaking from the embrace with scarecrow and running over to Dorothy.
"Glinda, she's asleep now, for a few days." Dorothy said wrapping her arms around Aislynn.
"Oh my, is Ellie okay?" Scarecrow asked.
"She's mad at me now I think, Alex is trying to console her." Dorothy said sadly.
"Dorothy where is she?" Aislynn asked
"She's currently at the tower, scarecrow I'm sure you know the way?" Dorothy said.
Scarecrow nodded and led Aislynn off. Dorothy then tightened her grip on the scepter and walked towards the chambers. When she got there she found Alison waiting there alone.
"Everyone is at the sickbay with Glinda. Ellie is still on the stairs to the tower, and Alex is also now in the sickbay." Alison said.
"What happened?" Dorothy asked sounding concerned
"Ellie punched him in the face, he's fine, just has a black eye." Alison said walking over to Dorothy.
"Ellie's really upset then?" Dorothy asked sadly.
"Only because she's been forced into a position she didn't want to be in." Alison said.
"How are Aislynn, Alex, and I getting home?" Dorothy asked trying to quickly change the subject.
"Without Glinda here I cannot do the magic, basically unless we either get the rainbow mover working again or Glinda awakens you guys are stuck here." Alison said sadly.
"Well that's terrific." Dorothy said sarcastically.
"I know, isn't it?" The princess asked walking in.
"Oh, hello china princess, did you need something?" Alison asked bowing.
"Actually my husband and I have decided to take Dorothy on a bit of an outing, Dorothy, Marshal Mallow has gone to your room to fetch your boots and jacket." The princess said taking out her pendant and putting it on and growing to her larger size.
Dorothy walked over to the china princess and looked up at her with a confused look. At this point she had no idea what was going on and what the heck she was going to do to fix this problem.