Disclaimer, the usual I really own nothing besides the ideas
"Dorothy?" Mrs. Teak asked causing Dorothy to wake up.
Dorothy opened her eyes and sat up. Mrs. Teak was standing in front of her with Annabella in her arms. Dorothy stretched and rubbed her eyes. Toto jumped up onto the couch and licked Dorothy on the face causing her to giggle.
"Your uncle is here to drive you home, Alex is going through one more checkup and then Mr. Teak will drive him home." Mrs. Teak said.
"Thank you Mrs. Teak, Annabella was no trouble by the way." Dorothy said getting up and walking over to her satchel.
She picked up her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. She then slid on the slippers and took hold of the scepter. She said good bye to Mrs. Teak and Annabella and she and Toto left the house. Walking out to her uncles truck and she and Toto got in. soon they were off and headed back towards the farmhouse.
"Aislynn and Ellie are at school, Glinda wants to talk to you though." Henry said.
"Is she at the farmhouse?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yes." Henry replied.
"Okay, did she say what she wanted to talk about?" Dorothy asked.
"No." Henry replied.
Dorothy rummaged through her satchel and pulled out her watch. Looking at the time she found that it was half past seven and she would definitely had been late from school if she were going. She put the watch back in the satchel and pulled out her silver flats. Sliding off the slippers she placed them in the satchel and then slid on the flats. Soon they arrived back at the farmhouse where Glinda was waiting on the porch. Dorothy jumped out of the truck and ran over to Glinda. She immediately found herself pulled in a tight embrace.
"I always wondered where Ellie got her hugging skills from." Dorothy said.
"Sorry, your aunt was telling me that you were talking about your parents yesterday." Glinda said.
"Yes Glinda, and to be honest I think I'm going to try to avoid that subject more." Dorothy said.
"I know it hurts you to talk about them." Glinda said.
"It hurts to even think about them." Dorothy replied.
"Anyways, that's not what I wanted to talk about." Glinda said.
"Then what?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"We are taking the jester's attack yesterday as a declaration of war." Glinda said
"Glinda no, tell them all no, I will not let this go to war if I can avoid it." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, I think it's time for you to face facts, war is going to be unavoidable." Glinda started to say before Dorothy cut her off.
"Glinda, I know, but that doesn't mean I can't try to prevent it as long as possible." Dorothy said.
"I'm just making sure." Glinda said.
"Also, Glinda, can I show you something?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Sure, what is it?" Glinda asked.
"Come on, we'll have to have uncle henry drive us." Dorothy said heading back to the truck.
Glinda didn't bother to question this, she knew she would probably lose the argument. As they got into the truck Toto greeted Glinda with a happy bark and henry just looked at his niece curiously.
"Uncle Henry, can we go there?" Dorothy asked.
"Dorothy, are you sure?" Uncle Henry asked curiously.
"Positive." Dorothy replied.
"Well then, Glinda, I'm assuming Dorothy hasn't told you where she's asked me to go?" Henry asked turning to her.
"Not at all." Glinda said taking Toto in her lap.
"Well for her sake I'm not going to say it either." Henry said.
"Then I can guess." Glinda said.
Henry nodded and drove off. The ride went on in silence until they arrived at the graveyard. It still looked dark and gloomy as it always did. Dorothy slowly got out of the truck and removed her satchel and placed it on the seat. She motioned for Glinda to get out of the car. Glinda nodded and got out of the truck, Toto did as well. Dorothy grabbed the scepter then walked over to the gate of the yard. She pushed it open with all her might and walked in. Glinda followed closely behind with Toto at her heels. They walked along. When they got to the grave of Dorothy's parents they found a fresh display of flowers placed there, a new fresh display.
"He must still be coming back here." Dorothy said to herself kneeling down at the foot of the grave.
"So, this is your parent's grave?" Glinda asked.
"Yes, it hurts to come here, but sometimes I find it best to come here." Dorothy said.
"That's a good way of looking at it." Glinda said kneeling next to Dorothy.
"Glinda, would you mind going back to the car? I think I need to be alone for a few minutes." Dorothy said starting to tear up.
"Take your time dear, I'll tell your uncle that you needed a few minutes." Glinda.
"Toto, I think you should go as well." Dorothy said.
"Yes mam." Toto said following Glinda.
When Dorothy was sure she was completely alone she turned back to grave and cried a bit.
"Wishing I could hear your voice again, knowing that I never would, dreaming of you, won't help me to do, all that you dreamed I could." She sang to herself as her tears dripped down on the headstone.
She used her dress to dry the tears off the stone and continued on.
"Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somewhere near, somehow it seemed if I just dreamed somehow you'd both be here." She continued to sing as she sobbed.
She took a few flowers from the display and placed them on the stone.
"Too many years, fighting back tears, why can't the past just die!?" she sang as she got up.
She took a tight grip on the scepter and started back to the gate. She turned back and took one last look at the grave.
"Wishing you were somehow here again, knowing we must say goodbye, try to forgive, teach me to live, give me the strength to try." She sang as she reached the gates.
Walking through them and shutting the gate behind her she walked back to the truck and wiped the tears from her eyes. Glinda was leaning against the bed of the truck waiting for Dorothy to emerge. She walked over to Dorothy and hugged her tightly, and soon they were in the truck and headed back to town. When they arrived the first stop they made was at the Teaks, since Glinda wanted to check on Alex before she returned to Oz to keep an eye on Em. As the truck pulled up that saw Alex sitting on the front steps whittling away a hollow tube. Annabella was sitting next him in her mother's lap watching intently.
"Mom, can you pass me the bowl of peas over there? I want to test this." Alex said pointing to a large bowl filled with dried peas.
Mrs. Teak nodded and passed the bowl over. Alex took one and placed it in his mouth. He then took the tube in his mouth and blew into it sending the pea shooting out. It hit the window of the truck with faint ticking noise. Henry emerged from the truck and chuckled as they all approached.
"Sorry about that Mr. Gale" Alex said.
"It's alright, you know there is more than one way to load that?" Henry asked.
"Yes I do Mr. Gale, hello Dorothy, Miss Glinda." Alex said
"Morning alex, just wanted to check in on you." Glinda said.
"I'm alright." Alex said going through his pockets and producing another wooden tube.
"That's your pea shooter Dorothy." Annabella said.
"Thanks Annabella." Alex said tossing it to Dorothy.
Dorothy caught it and looked at it. She then helped herself to a pea from the bowl and placed it in her mouth. She then brought the pea shooter to her lips and blew it in Alex's direction. The pea hit him in the side of the neck.
"What was that for!?" Alex asked rubbing where the pea had hit.
"For placing yourself in front of the jester's spells, what if it had killed you? I don't want to lose you." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy." Alex said sighing.
"Dorothy upset?" Annabella asked curiously.
"Yes Annabella, I'm angry at your brother." Dorothy said walking back up to the steps.
"Dorothy calm down please." Glinda said.
Dorothy looked at Glinda, then at Alex, then at her uncle, and then to Annabella. She took a few deep breaths and sighed. Letting go of the scepter and allowing it to follow her, she knelt down in front of Alex and helped him up. She then embraced him tightly.
"I'm sorry for snapping Alex, it's just." Dorothy started to say before Alex cut her off.
"Dorothy I know." Alex said.
"Whose truck is that?" Annabella asked curiously.
Dorothy and Alex both looked back at the front drive and saw a light green pickup pulling in. as it stopped a man and a women emerged as well as a girl who was about her own age. The girl was pale skinned and had flaming red hair. She was about Dorothy's and wore an outfit similar to her aunts. She approached the couple slowly but soon reached them.
"So, you must be Dorothy I assume?" The girl asked.
"Yes, you must be, oh you're the daughter of the Johnson's that Mrs. Teak was mentioning yesterday." Dorothy said.
"Eliza Johnson." She said stretching out a hand.
Dorothy shook the girl's hand. Alex however wasn't too happy to see the girl.
"Eliza." He said discourage.
"Alex." Eliza replied in a same tone.
"So, you two have met?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Distant cousins on his father's side." Eliza said.
"Not by choice." Alex said.
"You be careful with him." Eliza told Dorothy.
"Hey, he's changed." Dorothy said.
"Fat chance she'll believe you." Alex said.
"So, oh, look its Mr. Foreman." Dorothy said changing the subject.
They all looked and saw Mr. Foreman's truck pulling in. Mrs. Teak had already taken Annabella over to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and uncle henry had already engaged in conversation and introducing Glinda. Mr. Foreman got out of his truck and walked over.
"Ah, good morning Dorothy, Alex, Eliza, good to see your parents listened to me last night." He said chuckling.
"You're the reason my cousin is here?" Alex asked frustrated.
"You two really need to make up at some point." Mr. Foreman said.
"So is Aislynn with you?" Eliza asked curiously.
"You know Aislynn?" Dorothy and Alex asked in shock.
"Yes, sorry we couldn't make it to the Christmas party by the way, anyways now for the explanation." Eliza said.
"I'd love to hear it." Glinda said walking over.
"Hello, anyways, Aislynn and I used to have play dates when her father was still alive, we sort of lost contact when she went to live with her grandfather, but word got to us that she belongs to you." Eliza said.
"That is correct, well, school should be getting out in a few hours, why don't you guys come to the farm house?" Dorothy asked.
"I'll ask my parents if I can stay for the day." Eliza said.
"I don't think that would be a good idea my pretty." Came the voice of the jester.
Eliza screamed and jumped behind Dorothy. Alex and Dorothy looked around and then noticed the jester on the porch roof. Dorothy pushed Eliza to the side and grabbed the scepter.
"Why are you back?" Glinda asked.
"Can it Glinda, it's your new friend I wish to talk to." The jester said.
"Who is he?" Eliza whispered sharply into Dorothy's ear.
"He's a rather bad enemy that I made it's a long story." Dorothy said.
"Can it, as I was going to say, I'd avoid even being associated with her, and that's all I'll say." He said cackling wickedly.
Dorothy looked at him angrily. Alex offered her the bowl of peas. She took one and shot it at the jester through the pea shooter. Alex did the same. The peas hit him in the neck and the eye.
"Ouch!" the jester yelled before vanishing.
"I really hate him!" Glinda said.
"Eliza?" Alex asked looking at his cousin.
Dorothy looked at Eliza, she had gone as pale as a ghost. She looked as if she was about to faint. Alex chuckled and led his cousin over to the front steps. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were now being confronted by Glinda, Dorothy assumed that she was explaining what just happened. Dorothy smiled and walked over to Eliza. She was taking several deep breaths. Mrs. Teak and Mr. Foreman both walked over.
"Eliza dear do you need anything?" Mrs. Teak asked curiously.
"Mrs. Teak call the school, tell them Mr. Foreman is coming to pick up Ellie and Aislynn, Mr. foreman, you go get them." Dorothy said.
Mrs. Teak nodded and took Annabella into the house. Mr. Foreman nodded and ran back to his truck.
They waited for about ten minutes before Mr. Foreman returned. Aislynn literally bolted out of the truck and over to Eliza. Toto barked at them in confusion. Ellie walked over to her sister and helped explain.
"Eliza, it's wonderful to see you again, what happened?" Aislynn asked as they embraced.
"She met the jester." Alex said.
"Oh dear." Aislynn said.
"She's gotten a warning from him." Dorothy said as Mr. Foreman walked over.
"Eliza, I'm sorry I asked your parents to come here, Dorothy I'm sorry I didn't think about it." Mr. Foreman said.
"Don't worry Mr. Foreman, she's part of our group now, not that she has a choice at this point." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, I brought something of yours by the way." Eliza said pulling out a small charm bracelet.
"How did you come by that" Aislynn asked.
"According to my parents Dorothy didn't take much with her when she left to live with her aunt and uncle, a lot of her stuff and her parent's stuff are at our house, well, technically its yours." Eliza said helping Dorothy put on the bracelet.
Dorothy looked at the bracelet and sighed. She remembered the day she had gotten this.
"Dorothy!" her mom called.
"Yes momma?" Dorothy asked walking into the room.
"I have a surprise for you." She said.
"Ooh I love surprises." Dorothy said running up to her mother.
Mrs. Gale smiled and pulled out a small square box. She handed it to Dorothy opened it. inside was the charm bracelet. The bracelet only had one solitary charm on it, one of a heart. However at the time it was too large for her to wear so the first question that came to her mind was.
"Is it a necklace?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It's a charm bracelet, one day you'll grow into it." She replied chuckling.
"Thank you momma." Dorothy said hugging her mother tightly.
"Dorothy!?" Alex said.
Dorothy sniffed and looked up at him. She then realized she was crying again.
"You were remembering something having to do with the bracelet weren't you?" Aislynn asked.
"How do you mean?" Eliza asked.
"I'll explain later, hello Mr. and Mrs. Johnson." Aislynn said as they approached.
"Hello ace, my you've grown up." Mrs. Johnson said.
"She's really smart." Dorothy and Alex said in unison.
"We've always been aware of that, it's a pleasure to meet you at last Dorothy." Mr. Johnson said.
"Thank you Mr. Johnson, now what have my friends told you so far?" Dorothy asked.
"A lot that we don't understand." Mrs. Johnson replied.
"I figured, hers a condensed version, I've put you all in danger with my presence, that man wants me dead for several legitimate reasons end of story." Dorothy said.
"Yes, we sort of got that, but that women in the beautiful dress suggests we stay in town." Mr. Johnson said.
"Well, I'm not going to force you two to stay but I think it would be better if Eliza stays here." Dorothy said as uncle henry and Glinda walked over.
"The jester won't go after you guys if you aren't completely associated with Dorothy, and the only way you guys are association is through her old home." Glinda said.
"Can you put protection over the old house?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yes I could." Glinda said.
"Well put them under your protection, not that it will help." Dorothy said as Glinda looked up at the sky and squinted.
"Incoming!" Ellie shouted as a large rock hit the ground next to her.
Dorothy and Alex both got up and looked up at the sky. They saw an entire swarm of flying monkeys swarming around the house. Alex grabbed a handful of peas and placed a few in his mouth. He then ran to where Ellie was and began firing peas at monkeys. He sent several flying in the other direction away from them. Dorothy then quickly got up and started sending balls of light at the monkeys. Glinda was doing the same thing. It wasn't long before someone took notice from next door. Mr. and Mrs. Teak came out of the house to see the commotion. Mrs. Teak screamed and ran back inside. Mr. Teak just stood there, frozen to the spot.
"Alex go defend your dad and cousin, Dorothy and I will take care of things over here." Glinda said.
Alex nodded and ran over to the porch taking more peas and shooting at the monkeys. However it wasn't long before people came to watch the spectacle. Glinda sent a few minor spells up at the monkeys and they began swarm closer.
"Enough! I think they get the point, Troops Retreat." Came the voice of the jester.
A larger monkey flew down and screeched out. The monkeys all screeched in return and flew straight up and out of sight. Dorothy sighed in relief leaned against the truck.
"Okay I really hate him." Glinda said.
"Me, Too." Dorothy said panting.
They were met with a thundering applause from the people who had shown up. They all thought it was a show. That's how they wanted it to be. Dorothy didn't want everyone in Kansas to know about the jester. It wasn't long after however before Officer Grey showed up and cleared everything out.
"Glinda you go check to see if the Johnsons and Mr. Teak are okay." Dorothy said.
Glinda nodded and walked over to them. Alex walked back over to Dorothy. He hugged her tightly and they both walked over to Officer Grey.
"So, it's getting bad then?" Officer grey asked.
"Sadly." Dorothy said.
"I think it'd be best if we keep up the idea this is all a game then." Officer grey said.
"I think this is just the beginning Officer Grey." Henry said walking over.
"I know henry, thank lord Em isn't here." Officer grey said.
"Luckily." Henry said.
"So, now what, hey is that the Johnson family?" Officer Grey asked.
"Yes, and they have met the jester." Dorothy said,
"Oh dear." Officer grey said.
"Yep." Dorothy said.
Dorothy looked over to them. Dorothy looked at Alex and dragged him back towards the house. As they got to the doorstep he took control and started dragging her instead. He dragged her upstairs and into his room slamming the door behind them
"Dorothy, what have you gotten us into this time?" Alex asked.
"Hey don't get mad at me, I never asked for this." Dorothy said.
"I know but now we have just about my entire family involved now." Alex said.
Dorothy hung her head in defeat then looked around the room. She had never seen the room at all. It was one of the only rooms of the house she hadn't seen aside from the basement, the attic, and Mr. and Mrs. Teak's bedroom. The room was plain in look. The walls were painted with beige pain and the desk on the other end of the room had different pairs of dance shoes lined up next to each other. The bed she was sitting on was plain looking with a grey blanket covering it. The dresser and the wardrobe pretty much blended in with the surroundings.
"Alex, I'm sorry." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, I know it's not your fault that they are here, but our problem with the jester is." Alex said as Dorothy got up.
"No there is no our problem, the jester wants to get rid of me, and I don't want any of you guys to get in the way." Dorothy said.
"Are you two done making theatrics?" Ellie said opening the window at the back of the room.
"How'd you get up there?" Alex asked curiously.
"My sister helped me move the ladder, your mother said this was probably the best possibility to gain entrance." Ellie said.
"Ellie go back outside, you need to help ace with the Johnsons" Dorothy said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have gone back to their own house Glinda just departed after them, Eliza is in the living room with Mr. and Mrs. Teak, Toto and Annabella, and your uncle has brought Aislynn back to the farm house." Ellie said.
"Why'd they leave Eliza here?" Dorothy asked.
"She'll be safer with us, you know that." Ellie said walking over.
"Ellie, I don't want to put any more people in danger." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy listen to yourself for a minute, the jester's power has destroyed the down with a tornado, sent flying monkeys, twice, turned you into a cat, attacked Alex, and now this." Ellie said.
"Well what do you suggest I do then?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"There isn't anything you can do." Ellie said.
"Ellie, please, just go." Dorothy said.
Ellie sighed and went back to the window. Climbing out of it she looked at Alex and gave him a stern look.
"Take care of her." She said shutting the window.
Alex saluted and wrapped his arms around Dorothy. She embraced him and began to cry.
"Alex, I-I-I don't k-k-know what I'm going to do." She said sobbing into his shoulder.
"Dorothy, please, calm down, we'll think of something." Alex said.
"Alex listen, I said there is no we!" Dorothy shouted.
"Dorothy it's going to take more than just you to defeat the jester." Alex said.
"I've bested him before I can do it again!" Dorothy shouted
"Dorothy, before we go any further, take a few deep breaths." Alex said.
"Alex, I'm not going to explode again." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, please calm down." Came the voice of aunt Em from the mirror on the far end of the room.
"Auntie Em, is Glinda with you?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes she is sweetie, and she's told me what happened, she's heading back to the teak residence, do you think it would be a good idea to bring Eliza here?" Em asked.
"I don't know auntie." Dorothy said before bursting into tears again.
"Dorothy, please, calm down, look we'll bring you guys here." Em said.
Dorothy didn't even get a chance to object before she felt herself lurch forward. She was too upset to even notice the feeling of dizziness. She then felt herself land on her bed in the emerald city with the scepter now floating right next to her. Her aunt was sitting on the bed and Glinda was standing next to her. The only person actually doing anything however was Alex who was on the floor gagging.
"Auntie Em, I've dragged so many people into my mess." Dorothy said hugging her aunt.
"Dorothy, I know sweetheart." She said stroking her niece's hair.
"Auntie Em how can you and uncle henry be so calm about all of this? I mean, I'm putting your unborn child in danger." Dorothy said.
"Or children." Alex said through his retching.
"Whatever." Dorothy replied.
"Dorothy, your uncle and I have complete faith in what you guys are doing, and sticking with you guys has kept us pretty safe so far." Em said.
"So!? What if one of us fails or slips up?" Dorothy asked.
"Dorothy, if it happens it happens." Em replied.
"Mrs. Gale, I think Dorothy might want to be left alone." Glinda said.
"Actually Glinda, right now I think the clearing would be a good place to go." Dorothy said.
"Well the river hasn't thawed completely yet, so Tugg can't travel safely, so I'll have to send you myself." Glinda said.
Dorothy nodded and took hold of the scepter. Letting go of her aunt. The scepter then began to glow. Alex quickly staggered up and grasped onto it just as Dorothy felt herself lurch forward. The journey was quick but Dorothy still found Alex on the ground of the clearing gagging and retching. Dorothy sniffed and walked to the center of the clearing. Letting go of the scepter she sat down and hugged her knees to her chest. She sobbed for what felt like hours before she felt a hand on her back. She looked up and found Alex as well as Glinda.
"Dorothy, it's getting late, everyone wants you to return to the city." Glinda said.
Dorothy sniffed and got up. She pulled Glinda into a tight embrace. And then did the same to Alex.
"How long was I crying for?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Um, a few hours." Alex said pulling out his pocket watch then referring to the setting sun.
"Glinda, let's go back." Dorothy said.
Glinda nodded and gestured to the scepter. Dorothy smiled and took it. She then felt herself lurch forward and suddenly they were in the chambers. She was immediately pulled into a tight embrace by Ellie.
"Dorothy, you two were gone for so long we were worried something might have happened to you two." Ellie said.
"Ellie, don't worry, you know Alex and I can take care of ourselves, Glinda sent me to the clearing so I could have some crying time." Dorothy said returning the embrace.
"Well at least you had the scepter." Glinda said.
"Thanks Glinda." Dorothy said before releasing Ellie from the embrace.
"You feeling hungry?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Not really." Dorothy said.
"Well, have an apple anyways, you can keep it on your bedpost." Glinda said tossing Dorothy an apple as well as her keys.
Dorothy smiled and put the ribbon of keys around her neck. She then walked out of the chambers without saying a word.
"I really worry about her sometimes." Alyssa said walking in.
"We all do Alyssa." Elena said walking in behind her.
"So, where's his majesty?" Glinda asked.
"They are all at the scarecrows private chambers." Alyssa said.
"And the china princess?" Glinda asked.
"She returned to her room with her husband, how's Mrs. Gale?" Alyssa asked.
"She's fine." Glinda said.
"Good, how's the other one?" Alyssa asked.
"I'm going to check up on her." Glinda said.
"Well then, I guess we're set, do you need any of us for anything?" Alyssa asked curiously.
"Yes, round up the other girls, I have a mission for you, all of you, but it is to remain a secret from Dorothy, it pains me to do this but it needs to be done, you too alex, promise me you won't tell." Glinda said glaring at him.
Alex immediately crossed his heart out of fear. Alyssa ran off to retrieve the others, everyone who was already there drew in close to Glinda. On the inside it hurt all of them to keep this a secret from her, but it had to be done. For Dorothy's sake.
Credits "Wishing you were some how here again" ALW
Well it's been a while since I did an ending note. But here it is. Remember to leave a review, follow if you'd like. Also after the next two chapters I will jump forward nine months to the birth of Dorothy's cousin/cousins I haven't decided yet.