Disclaimer, the usual
Dorothy awoke the next morning to find herself, surprisingly, still in her bed in the emerald city. It was still dark out so she assumed it was pretty early. She held her hand out for the scepter and then waved it at the lamp. The lamp clicked on and Dorothy heard the sound of Toto barking. She shushed him and then left her bedroom. She listened for the sounds of anyone nearby but it seemed everyone was asleep. She went in the direction of Glinda's room knowing Glinda would most likely be awake. Looking down at the light blue night gown she had change into she sighed and walked on. As she approached Glinda's room the door opened to reveal her sitting at a table staring into her crystal ball.
"Three in the morning, that's a first being unaided by a nightmare." Glinda said chuckling.
"Thanks Glinda, love you too, is Alex awake?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Last I checked he got up and was reading." Glinda said waving her hand over the crystal.
The image of Alex sitting at the desk in his room reading a book appeared in the crystal. He had his reading glasses on. Dorothy chuckled and looked at Glinda.
"Which way to his room?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Down the hall to the left, it's the white ebony door." Glinda said.
Dorothy nodded and walked out of the room. She followed Glinda's instructions and headed to the left. It didn't take her long to find Alex's room since it seemed to be the only door in the hallway. She waved the scepter over the door and the locked clicked open.
"Who is it?" Came Alex's voice.
"It's me." Dorothy said opening the door.
Alex turned around from the desk and took off his reading glasses. He got up and walked over to Dorothy.
"Why are you up so early?" Alex asked curiously.
"Why are you always trying to hide your reading glasses from me?" Dorothy asked.
"Fair enough." He said putting them back on.
"I think they make you look handsome, auntie Em is always trying to make me get a pair, but I can read just fine." Dorothy said.
"Even with the night vision?" Alex asked chuckling.
"Oh shut up." Dorothy said giggling.
"Anyways why are you here?" Alex asked curiously.
"You're the only one who I think will really listen to me at the moment." Dorothy said walking over to the bed and sitting down on it.
"Depends on what you need." Alex said walking over to the desk and marking his page, he was about to close the book when he took off his reading glasses and handed them to Dorothy.
"Why do I want these?" Dorothy asked.
"Just try them on." Alex said.
Dorothy nodded and tried them on, somehow they seemed to fit her just as well as they fit Alex. Alex then went into the desk and pulled out a small book. Handing it to Dorothy,
"Read a few pages of that and tell me if it looks better." Alex said.
Dorothy nodded again and flipped through the small book. She couldn't lie it actually made things look better. She nodded and Alex chuckled.
"I can't deny it, it does look clearer." Dorothy said.
"Go figure." Alex replied still chuckling
"So are you going to say I told you so, or are you going to let my aunt do all the nagging?" Dorothy asked giggling.
"I think you might want to see how you look in glasses first." He said.
"Not really." Dorothy replied.
"Why not dear?" came Glinda's voice from over by the door.
Dorothy and Alex both turned around and looked at Glinda. She was standing in the doorway with auntie Em at her side.
"Morning auntie Em." Dorothy said.
"Good morning Dorothy." Em said chuckling.
"So, is this the part where I get the 'I told you so speech'?" Dorothy asked.
"No dear." Em said walking over to her niece.
"Did my mother have reading glasses?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Both your parents did, your mother never used hers though, she thought they made her look stupid." Em said.
"That's why I don't like the idea of having reading glasses." Dorothy said taking off the glasses and handing them back to Alex.
"I think they make you look cute." Alex said.
"Thanks dear." Dorothy said looking at him.
"Mrs. Gale, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but why are you even awake?" Alex asked curiously.
"I woke up to grab a snack, couldn't get back to sleep, went to Glinda, and here I am." Em said.
"Was wiser in the kitchens again?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Where else would he be?" Em asked.
"Good point, so, I guess I'm going to have to go with uncle henry to get some ready glasses at some point?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Well, we have a shop here in the city, wiser gets his spectacles replaced every few weeks after 'landing practice'" Glinda said chuckling.
"I guess that's fair enough, how long till they open?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"I'm not sure if the place ever closes, I mean I've been there a few times myself at very early hours." Glinda said.
"Why?" Dorothy and Alex asked in unison.
"Dad doesn't like the stores in your world, they give him new spectacles here for free." Glinda said.
"Okay, fair enough." Dorothy said, Alex nodded in agreement.
"Well, I think we should leave you two to finish your conversation." Em said.
"I agree." Glinda replied.
"Well see you two at breakfast." Em said before she and Glinda walked out.
As they left Dorothy looked at Alex and then got up. She walked over to the desk and looked at the book.
"What were you reading anyways?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"History." Alex replied.
"Ah." Dorothy replied.
"Want to go into the business district and see if we can get you some reading glasses?" Alex asked curiously.
"I can't think of anything better to do, so sure why not, let's go change into some regular clothes first." Dorothy said.
"Meet you at your bedroom in let's say ten minutes?" Alex asked taking out his pocket watch.
"Sure." Dorothy said walking over to the door.
Alex smiled and nodded. Dorothy smiled back and walked out. She then took off in a sprint back to her bedroom. When she got there she found Toto sitting on her bed as if waiting for her. She quickly ran into her closet and grabbed her usual dress. She then quickly ran out and into the bathroom. It didn't take her long to change into it. As she emerged she found Alex sitting on her bed with his pocket watch in hand.
"That was eleven minutes." He said chuckling.
"Oh shut up." Dorothy said giggling.
"Well, get the slippers out of your satchel and let's go." Alex said tossing it to her.
Dorothy caught the satchel and pulled the slippers out. She set them on the floor and slid them on. She then slung the satchel over her shoulder and turned towards the door.
"Where are you guys going?" Toto asked curiously.
"The business district." Dorothy replied.
"Can I come?" Toto asked.
"Sure boy." Dorothy said.
"So, are we going?" Alex asked.
"Yes, let's go." Dorothy said tightening her grasp on the scepter and walking towards the door.
"Great." Alex said getting off the bed followed by Toto and walking after her.
They walked in silence till they reached the doors that lead out into business district. Dorothy looked at Alex and did a fake cough to see if Alex was listening.
"Yes?" Alex asked.
"I've never been in the business district at night, I mean I know that we are relatively safe here in the city, but stay close to me, both of you." Dorothy said looking at both of them.
"Good idea." Alex said, Toto merely barked in agreement.
They walked along the street of the business district. Almost every shop window was dark. It didn't take long for them to find the shop that Glinda had mentioned because as they walked by they saw wiser inside through the window getting new spectacles fitted on his beak. Dorothy looked at Alex, he shrugged and opened the door and the three of the entered in. the shop keeper looked over at the early customers and nearly fell off the stool he was standing on when he laid eyes on Dorothy.
"Good morning Dorothy, alex, Toto." Wiser said.
"Good morning wiser." Dorothy said.
"Miss Gale, what brings you here at this hour?" The shopkeeper asked stepping off the stool and bowing.
"Please don't do that, and please, just call me Dorothy please." Dorothy said walking over to the shopkeeper.
"Sorry Miss gale." He said getting.
"Suffering from insomnia then?" Wiser asked curiously.
"Yes." Alex replied.
"So, what brings you two here then?" Wiser asked curiously.
"I'm going to try reading glasses." Dorothy said.
"Ah, I'll get you fitted with some as soon as I'm done with wiser here. " The shopkeeper replied getting back on the stool.
"Auntie Em said you were in the kitchen when we talked to her last." Dorothy said turning to wiser.
"Yes, I was, and Brianna pointed out that one of my lenses were cracked." Wiser said.
"Is she always awake at this hour?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes, she spends the first few hours of the morning helping the chefs get ready for breakfast and then she goes back to bed." Wiser said as the shopkeeper finished fitting the spectacles.
"How's that?" the shopkeeper asked stepping down from the stool.
"It's great." He said pushing them up his beak.
"Well, try to be more careful, you end up in here more than you used to." The shopkeeper replied.
"Well I practice landing a lot." Wiser said walking over to the door.
"So I assume I'll see you in a week?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Probably, unless my aviation skills improve." Wiser said walking out of the shop.
"Well we can hope." Dorothy said.
"Have you ever flown with him?" Alex asked curiously.
"Twice, he doesn't land real well." Dorothy said.
"Fair enough." Alex replied.
"So, reading glasses, is there any style which you would prefer?" the shopkeeper asked,
"Just plain old reading glasses thank you." Dorothy said.
"Plain, um, let's see what I've got." He said looking around at the frames.
Dorothy sighed and sat down on the stool the shopkeeper had been standing on. She looked at Alex who was staring out the window at the dark streets. Then all of a sudden Glinda appeared in front of them
"So, I see you found the place." Glinda said.
"Ah Glinda. After I'm done with Miss Gale here, I'll get your father's new glasses." The shopkeeper said taking out a pair of reading glasses similar to the ones Alex had.
"I know what's on your mind right now." Glinda said kneeling down in front of Dorothy.
"I imagine you do." Dorothy replied chuckling.
"You're wondering what the point of having reading glasses is." Glinda said placing a hand under Dorothy's chin and tilting her head up so they were making eye contact.
"Well, yes." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, trust me, in your life time you'll find more uses for plain old everyday objects than you probably think possible, I mean think of the possibilities." Glinda said.
"Like for example, the lenses on my glasses reflect a lot of light and can be used to signal someone, or stun someone as a joke." Alex said chuckling.
"I'm guessing you've done that before?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yes." Alex replied as the shop keeper walked up to them
"These are the plainest designs I have." The shopkeeper said holding up two sets of frames.
The first ones were similar to Alex's only that the frames were painted dark brown whereas Alex's looked like polished brass. The second set were polished brass but the lenses had sort of a half-moon design going for them, it reminded Dorothy of the glasses Mrs. T the librarian sometimes wore. She picked up the ones that looked similar to Alex's and held them up to the man.
"So, that's your choice then? Or would you prefer them in blue so they match your eyes?" the shopkeeper asked curiously.
"Well, um, actually I'd like them just plain, without paint if you have them." Dorothy said.
"We do, but are you sure?" he asked curiously.
"I'm not one for anything fancy." Dorothy said.
"Fair enough, what's that Miss Glinda?" the shopkeeper asked referring to a folded up piece of paper in Glinda's hand that wasn't under Dorothy's chin still.
"It's an order, for a new set of prescription glasses." Glinda said handing him the paper.
"Who for?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Dorothy, don't be nosey." Alex said.
"Sorry." Dorothy said.
Toto looked up at them and barked a few times. Glinda looked down and Toto and scratched him behind the ears. The shopkeeper smiled and walked back over to his stock before unfolding the paper and reading it.
"When was the last time you went to an optometrist?" Alex asked curiously.
"the day after Mr. Digg's funeral, Dr. Karol had an opening at it had been a while, so Auntie Em took me and once more tried to insist I get reading glasses, why?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Just curious." Dorothy replied as the shopkeeper walked back over with a plain looking set of reading glasses.
"Will these do?" The shopkeeper asked.
"Perfect." Dorothy said.
"Well, I just need to get them fitted and then get the lenses in and your free to take them." He said.
"That's good, anyways, can the order be done?" Glinda asked.
"I'm a little backed up at the moment but if you come back in a month I can have them done by then." He said bending the bows on the frames to a slight angle and handing them to Dorothy.
She smiled and took them, trying on the frames she found that they fit perfectly. She smiled and handed them back to the shopkeeper nodding. He smiled and brought them over to the counter. It only took him a few seconds to get a set of lenses into the frames and brought them back over. Handing them back to her she tried them on again and rummaged through her satchel. After a few seconds she pulled out her little pocket compendium and rifled through the pages. They definitely made things more clear, she assumed she could eventually find a use for them.
"I think they make you look cute." Glinda said smiling.
"Thanks Glinda." Dorothy said giggling.
"That reminds me, how are your old glasses holding out?" The shopkeeper asked Glinda.
"You have glasses?" Dorothy asked Glinda in surprise.
"Have had them, for a while, I just don't use them as often as I should, there was an accident with a potion that ruined my vision slightly when I was in school." Glinda said.
"Oh, does Ellie know?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"She's the only soldier in my entire army that knows I have a pair." Glinda said.
"Well she is your sister." Alex said.
"Right, anyways, thank you for your assistance sir." Dorothy said standing up and curtseying to the shopkeeper.
"The pleasure is all mine to have helped the savior of Oz." he said.
Dorothy smiled and grabbed Alex's wrist. She then dragged him out of the shop with Toto following at their heels.
"You see what I have to contend with, at least this time there aren't any reporters around." Dorothy said as they walked back to the castle.
"Tell me about it." Alex replied.
"So, do you really think I look good in glasses?" Dorothy asked taking them off.
"Dorothy would I lie to you?" Alex asked.
"Yes." Dorothy replied.
"Good point, bad question, but I'm being completely honest, you look good with glasses." Alex said as they got back to the palace.
"I think you look nice with glasses." Toto said
"Thanks boy." Dorothy replied as they walked past the library.
Alex looked back and grabbed Dorothy's sleeve. She looked at him curiously as did Toto.
"Don't say anything just listen." Alex whispered.
Dorothy nodded and walked over to the library door. It was slightly ajar allowing her to hear what was going on.
"So you think she'll like it?" Came aislynn's voice.
"I'm sure she'll love it, it will be a nice addition, I saw it when she came back after crying." Came scarecrows voice.
"Scarecrow, can I have a second to check something?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Sure, what is it?" Scarecrow asked curiously.
"You know, it's not nice to listen in on other people's conversations, Dorothy, Alex!" Aislynn shouted.
Dorothy sighed and looked at Alex. He shrugged and they pushed open the door.
"What are you two doing up at this hour? And in day clothes?" Scarecrow asked as they walked in.
"We were in the business district." Dorothy replied.
"You weren't making trouble were you" Aislynn asked.
"No, we were getting me a pair of reading glasses, turns out my aunt was right." Dorothy said putting the glasses on again.
"I like them." Aislynn said walking over.
"So do I." scarecrow said following.
"I think they make you look grown up." Aislynn said before taking Dorothy's free hand and dropping something in it.
Dorothy looked at it and smiled. Aislynn had gotten her a charm for her charm bracelet. It was a charm of a little book. Dorothy smiled and hugged Aislynn before going into her satchel and pulling out the charm bracelet. Alex assisted Dorothy in attaching the charm.
"Thanks' ace, I love it." Dorothy said.
"I figured you would, anyways, thank you scarecrow for your help." Aislynn said before walking out.
"No problem." Scarecrow replied.
"Well, Alex and I are going to head back to my room, don't over work that brain of yours." Dorothy said chuckling.
"Now you know I can't promise that." Scarecrow said chuckling.
Toto barked a few times and Dorothy picked him up. And they walked out. When they returned to Dorothy's room neither of them were surprised to find Ellie and Glinda sitting on her bed. Ellie, like she and Alex was also in her normal day clothes. Dorothy set Toto down on the ground walked over.
"Nice glasses." Ellie said as Toto ran over and began pawing at her shoes.
"Thanks." Dorothy said looking at her dog.
"Toto I thought you were over that." Ellie said kicking her shoes off and surrendering them to Toto.
"So, he likes your shoes for some strange reason?" Alex asked.
"Yes." Ellie said.
"Toto, why do you like playing with Ellie's shoes anyways?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"I find it fun." He said before he started toying around with the shoes.
"You find it fun? Okay then." Dorothy said shrugging and taking off her satchel and hanging it on the bedpost.
"Well he finds it fun just let him do it, it's not like he's doing them harm." Alex said.
"I know." Ellie replied.
"Well, I'm going back to my room, I have stuff that I need to get accomplished." Glinda said getting up and walking out.
"Okay sis, see you at breakfast." Ellie said.
Dorothy smiled and walked over to her desk. She had left a few of her sketches out. She picked up the papers and stacked them up neatly. She then took off her glasses and put them in her pocket.
"So, what are we going to do about Eliza?" Ellie asked curiously.
"How should I know?" Alex asked.
"I think we should bring her here, I'm not sure she'll take it well but it's safer than letting the jester get to her." Dorothy said not even turning to face them.
"I don't know, like you said she probably wouldn't take it well." Alex said.
"Well she's your cousin." Ellie said taking out her red ball and throwing it against the wall.
"Well, I think Dorothy and I should go back after breakfast and ask her opinion." Alex said.
"I think that would be best." Em said walking in.
"Thanks auntie Em." Dorothy said walking back over.
"So, I ran into Aislynn on my way here, she said she was going back to her room to change and then she'd come here." Em replied.
"That's good." Ellie said.
Dorothy smiled and walked over to her aunt and hugged her.
"Glinda told me you actually went out and got some reading glasses." Em said chuckling.
Dorothy pulled them out of her pocket and put them on.
"They make you look grown up." Em said chuckling.
"That's what I said." Aislynn said walking in.
"Auntie Em, are you sure these don't make me look silly?" Dorothy asked.
"No, they don't, they make you look grown up and cute." Em said.
"Why don't you look in a mirror?" Aislynn asked curiously.
Dorothy shrugged and walked into the bathroom. She walked over to the sink and looked in the mirror. She couldn't deny that they did make her look nice, and that they did make her look more mature. But she didn't want to wear them unless she really had to. She emerged from the bathroom and took off her glasses. She looked at her aunt and her friends and smiled.
"As usual you guys were right." she said in defeat.
"We told you." Alex said.
Dorothy walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek causing him to blush. Everyone chuckled at this for a minute. It was then that the clock struck five in the morning and Dorothy realized they had been up for two hours already.
"Well, it's going to be time for breakfast soon." Em said walking towards the door.
"See you there auntie Em." Dorothy said.
Meanwhile back in Kansas.
Henry had arrived at the Teaks in order to check on Eliza. He was however tackled over by Annabella.
"Dorothy with you?" Annabella asked.
"Sorry Annabella, Dorothy is in Oz with your brother at the moment, where's your mother?" Henry asked curiously.
"Annabella!" Mrs. Teak shouted.
"Never mind." Henry said picking up Annabella.
Mrs. Teak ran out of the living room carrying a compress. She saw henry and sighed with relief.
"Good morning henry, I assume you want to see Eliza?" Mrs. Teak asked.
"Judging by the compress I'm assuming she isn't taking it well?" Henry asked walking over to the living room entrance and saw Eliza lying on the couch, pale as a ghost and shivering.
Henry sighed and walked Annabella over to the play pen and set her down in it. He then walked over to Eliza and knelt down next to her.
"I think she's just been really shaken by this." Mrs. Teak said.
"Send her to Oz at some point." henry said.
"How well to you think she'll take it?" Mrs. Teak
"Not at all, but at least it's safer there." Henry said.
"Well I'm glad you're here, my husband and I have been alternating all night watching her, and would you mind watching her and Annabella for an hour so that I can get my husband and me some food and get some rest?" Mrs. Teak asked.
"Not at all, you guys need your rest, don't worry." Henry replied.
Mrs. Teak smiled and walked out. Henry sighed and placed a hand on Eliza's forehead. She felt as if she had spent five minutes out in cold rain. He sighed and sat on the floor next to the couch and watched. He didn't know how long he had been there until he had looked at the clock and saw that it was quarter to seven. It was then that Dorothy, Alex, and Glinda appeared behind him. Glinda sighed and walked over to Eliza. Placing a hand on her forehead she sighed and waved her wand over the girl. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up, coughed and shivered.
"Why am I freezing?" She asked rubbing her arms.
"Eliza, you've be like this all night, I'll explain later, right now what you need is some tea." Glinda said as Dorothy pulled a thermos from her satchel.
She handed it to Glinda who took off the lid and poured some tea into the lid. She then handed it to Eliza who curiously sniffed it and took a sip. She sighed and everyone watched as color slowly returned to her face. Glinda placed the back of her hand on Eliza's cheek and chuckled.
"That really helped, I'm guessing I've been out for a while?" Eliza asked looking outside.
"Yes, I put you in a dreamless sleep spell and had your aunt and uncle watching you, henry showed up earlier this morning." Glinda said.
"Eliza feel better?" Annabella asked.
"Yes Annabella." Eliza said getting up and walking over to her cousin and picking her up.
Annabella looked at Eliza and struggled to get out of her arms. Dorothy sighed and got up. And stood in front of Eliza.
"Give Annabella to me." Dorothy said letting go of the scepter and holding out her arms.
Eliza sighed and handed her to Dorothy.
"Even before she could talk she never liked me holding her." Eliza said.
"She's only a little more than a year old." Glinda said screwing the lid back on the thermos.
"I know but I only got to see her three or four times, and even now she doesn't like me." Eliza said.
"Well Dorothy's name was her first word." Alex said walking in with a large sack of peas.
"You know you can also use dried corn kernels?" Henry asked.
"Yea, but peas are easier to get as well as cheaper." Alex said.
"You could always get some from us." Dorothy said.
"I'll remember that." Alex said.
"Anyways, stupid question, but why are you to here? I mean I understand Glinda being here but why you two?" Eliza asked.
"We were wondering if you'd liked to come to Oz with us. Either now or later, it doesn't matter to us." Alex said.
"Well, I'd like to have some food in me first." Eliza said.
"Fair enough." Alex replied.
"Food's in the kitchen." Mrs. Teak said stiffing a cup of coffee.
"Thanks auntie." Eliza said.
"Good to see you with a bit of color." Mrs. Teak said
"Thanks again." Eliza said.
"No problem dear, and Alex, are those all the peas?" Mrs. Teak ask curiously.
"Yes mother." Alex replied.
"Looks like I'm going to the store then." Mrs. Teak said
"I'm going to go grab myself some food, then you guys can show me this place you were talking about." Eliza said walking out of the living room.
"Can I come?" Annabella asked curiously.
"Sure." Dorothy said setting Annabella down on.
"Yay!" Annabella said hugging Dorothy's legs.
"What's Annabella excited about?" Eliza asked walking in eating an apple.
"She's coming with us." Dorothy said
"Well can we go now?" Eliza asked curiously.
"Sure." Glinda said waving her wand in a long flourishing motion.
Instantly Dorothy felt herself lurch forward. She felt Annabella's grasp on her legs tighten. After a minute Dorothy felt herself and Annabella land on her bed in the emerald city. This was surprising because that wasn't where they departed from, they had all departed from the banquet hall after breakfast. It wasn't long however before Ellie and Aislynn ran in.
"So, you two ended up in here, the others are in the chambers, Eliza is currently vomiting into a bucket." Aislynn said.
"Ah, so she's not taking it well?" Dorothy asked.
"Not at all." Ellie replied walking over to the bed and picking up Annabella.
Dorothy smiled and smoothed her dress, she then picked up the scepter and got up. She then took Annabella from Ellie and set her on the ground. Annabella then took off sprinting out of the room and in the direction of the chambers. Aislynn sighed and ran after as Dorothy and Ellie followed. When they all got to the chambers they found Annabella in Glinda's arms. Eliza was on the floor retching into a bucket. Alex was standing a good distance away with scarecrow and Lion. They saw Dorothy and walked over to her.
"So, who's your friend?" Lion asked curiously.
"Alex's cousin Eliza, is my aunt around?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"She's in the kitchen baking." Scarecrow said.
"Oh, she wanted to keep herself busy?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes." Lion replied sniffing the air.
"What's in the air?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Smells like fresh apple Pie." Lion said
"Oh, did she know we were getting a visitor?" Dorothy asked.
I don't know, Glinda talked to her last before you guys left." Lion said.
"Then probably, she almost always makes apple pie when we have guests." Dorothy said.
"That's neat, what does it taste like?" scarecrow asked curiously.
"Well, um, sweet, depending on the apples a little bit sour, but in a good way." Dorothy said.
"Oh." Scarecrow replied.
"So, who's our visitor?" Auntie Em asked walking in covered in flower.
"Auntie Em you're a mess." Dorothy said giggling.
"I know." Em said dusting off her overalls.
"It's the Johnson's daughter." Ellie said.
"She's my cousin." Alex said walking over.
"Oh, I haven't seen her since she was a little girl, I'll go help her." Em said walking over to her.
Dorothy smiled and watched as her aunt helped Eliza rubbing her back in a circular motion. She watched as she helped Eliza up and led her over to Dorothy. Eliza immediately placed a hand on Dorothy's shoulder.
"Do you go through this every time you come here?" Eliza asked still sounding like she needed to vomit.
"Yes." Dorothy said.
"You have my respects." Eliza said.
"You get used to it after a while." Alex said walking over.
"You have my respects as well cousin." Eliza said.
"Thanks." Alex said.
"Don't mention it." Eliza said.
"So, this is the emerald city, these are some of my friends." Dorothy said gesturing to the scarecrow and lion.
Eliza looked at them, she approached scarecrow first. He held out a hand for her to shake and she did. Lion then held out a paw for her to shake. She did rather reluctantly and then backed up over to Dorothy. It was then that something dawned on Dorothy.
"Where is tin man?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"He's currently with the china Princess and the Marshall Mallow out in the garden courtyard." Scarecrow said.
"You're Majesty!" Came the voice of one of the soldiers as he ran in.
"Yes?" Scarecrow asked rolling his eyes.
"We got a message from the queen of the field mice." The soldier said handing him a piece of paper and then running out.
Scarecrow unfolded the small piece of paper and quickly read it. He chuckled and handed it to lion. He to read it and chuckled as well.
"What's so funny?" Eliza asked curiously.
"The queen of the field mice wanted to know if she and her subjects could stay in the emerald city, she knows she doesn't have to ask." Scarecrow said walking out of the chambers.
"Well, I should probably go with him." Lion said walking out after the scarecrow.
Dorothy smiled and walked up to her aunt. She then embraced her tightly. The scepter took on a warm welcoming green glow. Glinda saw this and walked over.
"Emily, you should probably go get some rest, remember, you're with child and as soon as the signs start becoming more prominent none of us will allow you to be out and about all the time." Glinda said smiling.
"You're pregnant?" Eliza asked curiously.
"Yes dear." Em said turning to Eliza.
"Congratulations." Eliza said.
"Thank you." Em replied as Dorothy backed up from the embrace.
The glow of the scepter subsided and Glinda chuckled. Em sighed and decided to go back to the kitchens to wait for the pie to be done. Eliza looked around the room curiously.
"Didn't your uncle come with us?" Eliza asked curiously.
"No, he's still back in Kansas." Glinda said.
"So what's the story with the jester? And I mean the full story." Eliza asked.
"That's going to take some time to explain, come with me and I'll tell you the entire story." Glinda said offering her hand to Eliza.
She nodded and took Glinda's hand. Glinda then led her out of the chambers and to her room. Dorothy chuckled and looked at Alex. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek causing her to giggle and blush. Annabella ran over followed by Ellie and Aislynn. She then quickly put her hands in Dorothy's dress pocket and pulled out the reading glasses. They all chuckled as Annabella tried them on. Dorothy smiled and took them from her and put them on her own face.
"I like them." Annabella said smiling.
"Thank you Annabella." Dorothy said picking her up.
"So, Eliza's getting the full story from my sister, what do you guys want to do in the mean time?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Well I was thinking Dorothy and I could do some target practice with our pea shooters." Alex said.
"We could set something up for that if you'd like." Ellie offered.
"Sure, why not." Alex said smiling.
"Well, come on ace." Ellie said taking aislynn's hand and running out of the chambers.
Dorothy looked at Annabella, then to Alex. She then handed Annabella off to Alex and walked over to one of the windows. Staring out at the landscape that was the land of oz. she knew Eliza would like it.
Well that's one chapter, after the next chapter will be a jump to the birth of Dorothy's cousin/cousin's still haven't decided. Also the reading glasses will have a future purpose other than for getting compliments.