Disclaimer, well you get it by now.
As soon as Mallow arrived with Dorothy's stuff as well as carrying a picnic basket. It was then Dorothy knew one thing. They were going on a picnic, and that was all she knew. She set down the scepter and pulled on her boots, as she did this she looked up at them curiously.
"Why?" she asked.
"Marshal and I have actually been planning this for a while, we just didn't know when to do it." The princess said helping Dorothy up.
"Oh, how long?" Dorothy asked.
"Um since the wedding." The princess and Marshall mallow said in unison.
"Wow, that's a long time." Alison said chuckling from the back of the room.
"Thanks dear, love you too." The princess said giggling.
"Come on dear, let's take Dorothy on our picnic dear." He said walking over and helping Dorothy with her coat.
"Right dear, come on lets head to Tugg." The princess said happily.
"Where are we going?" Dorothy asked curiously as she grabbed the scepter.
"It's a surprise." The princess said in a sing-song tone.
Dorothy giggled and followed as they walked out towards Tugg. It had snowed in Oz as well, just not as much as it had in Kansas. She gasped in awe at the sight as they walked towards the docks.
"Oz always looks so beautiful after a small dusting of snow." The princess said looking at Dorothy.
"I'll say, I wish I had a camera." She replied.
"You could draw it, or sketched." Marshal mallow said.
"Good idea, and since I'm stuck here until Glinda awakens, I'll have plenty of time." She said.
"Right, Alison mentioned that while they were bringing Glinda to the sickbay, though it's more of a medical wing." Marshall Mallow said as they arrived at the docks to find Tugg waiting there for them. He smiled and laughed heartily.
"Good Morning China princess, Marshall, and Dorothy my dear, how are you?" he asked happily.
"I'm wonderful Tugg, how have you been?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Quite well." He said as they embarked.
As they were floating up the munchkin river Dorothy began to wonder if anyone else was in on the plan. She then walked over to the wheel and sat down next to it. Watching the snow dusted scenery pass them by she marveled at the beauty of the land. But she still wondered where they were headed for the picnic after them past the clearing. She then set the scepter down and got up. Walking over to the couple who hadn't said anything to her since they got on the boat.
"Any hints?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"No my dear, that would ruin the surprise, anyways, Tugg when we get there can you wait there till we get back?" The Princess asked curiously.
"Sure, but do you plan on walking the rest of the way?" Tugg asked.
"Yes Tugg it's not like it's that far of a distance between." The princess said happily.
"That is true." He said.
"Tugg, how much farther do you think?" Marshal Mallow asked curiously.
"A few more miles I should think, I mean we're going against the current." He said looking forward.
"To bad we didn't bring Glinda's map." The princess said sighing.
"But then, through logic, Dorothy could look at it and find out where we are headed my dear." Marshall said looking at his wife.
"Good point, oh doesn't that place bring back memories." The princess said pointing over to a river bank.
Dorothy looked over to it. It looked like just a normal river bank to her, she didn't know why she should remember it. She then looked and saw what looked like a newly repaired bridge. It was then that it struck her.
"This is where we built Tugg." Dorothy said and they passed by it.
"That is correct, Tugg, dock us by the bridge." Marshall said.
"Yes sir." He said stopping at the edge of the bank.
Dorothy smiled and held out her hand for the scepter. It floated into her hand and they disembarked. Soon they were on land and passing by the talking trees, they were silent and looked as if they were asleep. It was then Dorothy realized what direction they were headed. They were headed towards the China country, but it didn't seem like kind of a place where even the princess would go for a picnic.
"Are we headed to china county?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"We're going through it, which reminds me, I should really have them build a channel through the country so we can dock there next time dear." The princess said looking at her husband.
"There is one near my home, the problem is when the jester showed up the first time it was blocked up by a boulder." Marshall said.
"Ah, we'll see to that, my crafters are great with stone, it's not much different from China or porcelain, it's just harder, that and we don't have too much stone there so I don't allow them to work with it that often." The princess said as they arrived at the gate to china country.
"Wait a minute." Dorothy said stopping behind them having just thought of something.
"What is it Dorothy?" they both asked.
"Are we going to Candy County?" Dorothy asked.
"Correct my dear, Open the gates!" The princess shouted.
Soon the gates to the country creaked open and they were in the beautiful china country, the place was literally buzzing with activity of people setting up holiday ornament, not just Christmas ones but ones for various holidays as well. This struck Dorothy as odd but the china princess decided to explain.
"You didn't think that the wizard only introduced us to just Christmas do you? No that would be silly, the wizard introduced us to all of your world's silly holidays." The princess said gesturing around as her old butler came up to her and did a low bow.
"Your majesty, it is a pleasure to see you again, the city is a bit shaken after a tremor, we thought we should report that." He said getting up from the bow.
"Everyone felt it, I kind of figured." She said curtseying.
"Okay then, I shall allow you on your passage through the city, and hello your marshmallow-ness, and miss gale." He said bowing at both of them.
"Just call me mallow, or marshal, or Marshal Mallow." Marshal replied giving a quick bow.
"And please, it's just Dorothy." Dorothy said curtseying.
"Yes your majesty, and yes Miss Dorothy." He said bowing at both of them again.
The three of them shared a laugh for a minute then continued on their way. Soon they were out of china country and on their way to Candy County. As they walked along the scenery began to change fast. Soon after maybe about ten minutes they were at the border to Candy County.
"First we must make a stop in town before we go to the picnic spot, Judge jawbreaker and General Candy Apple requested to see you at some point." Marshal mallow said leading them to the town.
"You know last time I was in this town I was getting arrested because of the jester's trick." Dorothy said as they arrived at the court house.
"Is that the castle they are building for us over there?" the princess asked.
"You mean the one that we'll likely never use?" Marshal mallow asked in response.
"Yes." The princess replied.
"Then yes, it's the only castle in Candy County." Marshall said as they entered the court house.
"Dorothy Gale." Came two voices in unison and then a loud applause.
Dorothy smiled and saw that she was expected as a visitor and people seemed to be waiting for them to arrive. She saw General candy apple and Judge Jawbreaker at the head of the court house.
"Hello judge jawbreaker." Dorothy said walking up to the judges stand.
"Hello Dorothy gale." General candy apple said walking over and saluting.
"General Candy Apple." Dorothy said returning the salute.
"How have you been?" They both asked in unison.
"I've been good, Shouldn't you be greeting your king and queen, its only proper." Dorothy said referring to Marshall Mallow and the china princess.
"Spoken like a true leader." General candy apple said walking over to the rulers.
He saluted to Marshall Mallow who returned the salute, then he bowed to the china princess who curtseyed back. He then escorted them to the head of the court house.
"I assume you are here for the picnic you've been planning for years?" Judge jawbreaker asked referring to the picnic basket.
"Correct, and I think we'll be using the spot near the Hot chocolate geyser." Marshall said looking at the map.
"Oh good spot, it's always active in the winter months, you know we got an order from a shop in the emerald city for chocolate from the geyser." General candy apple said pulling out a slip of paper with an official seal from the emerald city on it.
Marshall took it and read through it, he chuckled and handed it to his wife. She to read it and chuckled, dropping it in the process. Dorothy picked it up and read it, she too couldn't help but chuckle.
"You know the person who wrote it?" Judge Jawbreaker asked.
"Know them, she's one of Glinda's soldiers, she owns an ice cream parlor just inside the emerald city business district." Marshall Mallow said regaining his composure.
"So should we deny the order then?" General candy apple asked.
"No, that's the opposite of what you should do, if I had known that she knew about the geyser I would have sent the order myself." Marshall Mallow said pulling a stamp out of his pocket and taking the paper from Dorothy.
He then stamped the words 'Order Approved' on the paper and handed it to General Candy apple who saluted and immediately marched off to get the order fulfilled. Marshal mallow chuckled and then led Dorothy and the china princess to the back door of the court house.
"I see that toffee apple trees are coming in nicely." The princess said walking over to one and taking an apple.
"Hey china Princess, there's a law isn't there?" Dorothy asked confused.
"When she and I married, our kingdoms made a deal that people of Candy County could get fine chinaware from China Country, and people of china country could get candy from here in Candy County." Marshall Mallow said.
"Oh, where was I when this happened?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"You didn't stick around long enough, General Candy apple suggested it the day after you left." Marshal mallow replied.
"Oh." Was all Dorothy could say?
They walked along for what was probably about a half hour before they ended up in what looked like a forest of trees with marshmallows of many shapes and sizes as leaves and fruit. Dorothy then felt the ground vibrate beneath her. She braced herself and jammed the end of the scepter into the ground, leaning against it.
"Don't worry, it's just the geyser, we're not far from it now." Marshall said as they walked through the forest.
"Marshall gave me an entire thermos full of the chocolate from the geyser for our anniversary, it's really good." The princess said plucking a marshmallow leaf from the one of the trees and examining it curiously.
"Is something wrong dear?" Marshall asked curiously.
"The marshmallows take many shapes and sizes as leaves and fruits to even regular marshmallow shapes, why is that?" The princess asked holding up the marshmallow leaf in front of her and comparing it to a leaf on a nearby branch.
"I think it's just for variety." He replied having never actually thought about it.
"Oh is that the geyser?" Dorothy asked pointing to a large spout of steaming chocolate erupting out of the ground.
"Yes, that's it, and there's general candy apple collecting the chocolate into our insulated shipping containers." He said as they got to where the general was standing.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would show up." He said chuckling.
"Have we cleared the channel to the munchkin river yet?" Marshall asked curiously.
"We have people from china country helping us, we should be through it in maybe a few days, apparently your people have a stash of stone cutting tools you never let them use?" General candy apple said looking at the china princess.
"What would be the point? I mean its china country, not masonry land." She said chuckling.
"The only stone in china country is the bricks of the yellow brick road." Marshal mallow said walking over to a clearer spot and setting up the picnic blanket.
"Oh, we wouldn't want to damage those." General candy apple said sealing one of the containers.
"Exactly." The princess said holding up the leaf to another tree.
"It's always like that." General Candy apple said.
"Yea, my husband explained that." She said.
"I figured, oh, Dorothy, I almost forgot." He said walking over to her and handing her what looked like an identification card made out of several candy wrappers layered and laminated together.
"What's this?" Dorothy asked looking the card over.
"Turn it over again." He said.
Dorothy did this and gasped at what she saw. The card now had a picture of her face on it in the corner and it read 'Honorary citizen' writing in large friendly letters.
"You are an honorary citizen of Candy County, as thanks for helping bring the two lands together." He said saluting.
Dorothy smiled and put the card in her dress pocket. She then took a quick smell of the air. The aromas were amazing, a mix of chocolate, marshmallows and mint. The geyser then sent out another large eruption of hot chocolate. In turn causing Dorothy to back away.
"Good idea, we don't call it a hot chocolate geyser because it's cold." Marshal mallow said walking back over having set up the picnic.
"Well, I'll leave you guys to your picnic." General candy apple said loading a container onto a cart that he had parked just at the edge of the clearing and then pushing it away.
Dorothy smiled and walked over to the picnic spot. On the blanket was a large plate of a variety of sandwiches, a large bowl of fruit salad, a thermos, and some tea cups. Soon the three of them were sat down around the blanket and eating.
"You are also an honorary citizen of china country as well." The china princess said opening the thermos and pouring some tea into one of the cups and handing it to Dorothy.
"Why?" Dorothy asked taking the cup and taking a sip.
"Because, we all love you here, and it's our thanks." The princess said.
"You guys know you don't have to do anything for me." Dorothy replied.
"You know, you constantly say that, but surely, there has to be something you want in return for all the kindness you give." The princess said pouring herself a cup of tea.
Dorothy shook her head and then grabbed a sandwich. Taking a bite she then smiled and looked at both of them.
"Dorothy, surely, even the most generous of people every once in a while ask for something in return for their kindness." Marshall Mallow said.
"Nope." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy." The china princess said sighing.
"Princess, I do what I do either on accident, meaning the deaths of the witches of the east and west, or because I care about all of you, such as our first encounter with the jester and the last one we had, and I love you guys all of you, but I'll most likely never ask for anything in return." Dorothy said finishing her tea and the sandwich.
"I think we should change the subject." Marshmallow said pulling out a small plate of cookies from and candied fruits from the picnic basket.
"Now, tell me my dear husband, have you ever had crystalized ginger? I hear its quite good." The princess asked smiling.
"I myself have not tried it, I know we have a grove somewhere on the farther side of candy county, it's maintained by some fruit stripped candies." He said offering the plate to Dorothy.
Dorothy smiled and took the plate, helping herself to a cookie and two pieces of candied fruit. She then passed the plate to the princess. Marshmallow then pulled out an empty thermos from the picnic basket and walked over to the geyser just as it erupted again. He held out the thermos allowing for the chocolate to splash in, and as soon as he accomplished this he walked back over and filled Dorothy's tea cup.
"Try it, it's really good." The princess whispered into her ear.
Dorothy nodded and picked up the cup. It was considerably warmer but still she lightly blew across the top and took a sip. It was some of the best hot chocolate she had ever tasted, not like the watered down stuff they served at breakfast diners, but real chocolate. It tasted rich and really sweet. She sighed in content and carefully set down her cup.
"It's some of the best I've ever tasted, thank you marshal." She said smiling.
"I'm glad you like it, you're welcome." He said filling his wife's cup
"Thank you Marshal." She said downing the entire cup in one go.
"Dear, remember what happened the last time you did that." Marshal Mallow said chuckling.
"I had indigestion for a week, so what?" she asked.
"Never mind dear." Marshal said not wanting to start an argument.
"I wonder how Ellie is doing." The china princess said.
"I'm assuming she still pretty miffed, I mean, she has to take care of her sister's domain while her sister is in the sickbay." Dorothy said, her tone going to one of sadness.
"Dorothy, oh I wish I hadn't brought it up." The princess said placing a hand on Dorothy's shoulder.
"No, no, it's alright, I don't mind, it's just that through some of my actions I end up upsetting the people I care about." Dorothy said lying down on her back and looking at the clouds.
"Dorothy, we all do that every now and again." Marshal mallow said.
"Do you and the princess upset each other sometimes?" Dorothy asked.
"Dorothy, I'm often upset at something." The princess said.
"But at marshal mallow?" Dorothy asked.
"Well, no, but…" The princess said as Dorothy cut her off.
"Exactly." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy that's not the point, I mean, what about Alyssa and Elena, they upset each other and they care about each other, and Glinda preformed that spell with knowledge that it would upset her sister when she found out." The princess said.
Dorothy looked at the china princess and then sighed. She wasn't in the mood to argue, she then grabbed the scepter and ate the cookie she had grabbed as well as the candied fruit. She then got up and dusted off her jacket. She then walked over to the trees that they had come from. She leaned against one and sighed. She then looked at the scepter which had taken on its usual glow. She stared into the orb and looked at the red haze which still hadn't faded from it. She looked over at Marshal Mallow and the princess who were now packing up the leftovers into the basket. When they were done they walked over to Dorothy and the princess placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on my dear, it's about three o'clock now." The princess said as marshal mallow led them out of the forest.
Dorothy smiled as they walked along, soon they were back at the court house. Marshall walked over to general apple and was finalizing Brianna's order, how it was to be delivered to the emerald city, and that when the channel was finally clear that he would try to establish trade of the candies that they do ship out and have a candy shop established. No one was in argument with it. And soon after everything was established they were on their way out of Candy County and back to china country so they could return to Tugg, and back to the city.