Disclaimer, you know.
Meanwhile in Father Time's domain.
Father time had been keeping an eye on all of them. He could not intervene, he could only observe. If he entered into the jester's newly created domain his power over time would become distorted by the dark magic used it would tear himself and everything controlled from his domain apart. He felt sorry for them all and wished he could help in some way. But he knew he couldn't.
Meanwhile at the Nome king's mountain.
The Nome king himself was also watching. His situation was no better, he too could only observe. He knew he could do nothing to intervene in the jester's challenge as his magic would become distorted and his kingdom as well as he would crumble. He would die to save Glinda and her friends but I would not put all of his subjects in danger to do it. He had gone to Father Time's domain the day before and found out that he could be of no help. He had gone to his room of crystals and observed everything he could as it happened in the forest.
Back in the woods.
Alex fell back asleep at around three in the morning. When the sun rose and Ellie and Aislynn emerged from their hut the first thing Ellie did was grab the scepter from the hut Dorothy and Alex had used. Aislynn walked over to the remnants of the camp fire and said good morning to Mr. Foreman and Toto. Toto barked happily which woke Dorothy and Alex. As everyone exchanged morning greetings and had a quick breakfast of what was left of the apples. Alex, Ellie and Mr. Foreman then covered the stone circle with dirt which Ellie then covered with water from the river. After this they continued on their journey. Using some rocks in the river as stepping stones they carefully crossed the river which allowed them to continue on. As soon as they all were across and back on their way Toto asked Dorothy a question.
"So, what are we going to do once we find him?" He asked.
"I don't know boy, I think we may have to rely on our wits for this one." Dorothy said as they walked.
"Well without the magic of the scepter you are pretty much an open target Dorothy." Ellie said sounding concerned.
"That's true, but I don't care, so long as we free all of them and get out of here so that his spell is broken, we'll be fine." Dorothy said.
"I think Dorothy's right, but we'll all have to stick together and keep our wits about us if we plan to get out of here." Alex said.
"Nicely said." Mr. Foreman said.
"Thanks." Alex replied chuckling.
"But what about the dragons, even if we managed to get passed them and get in the jester said that they are also instructed to keep us from leaving if we do get in." Dorothy said.
"Good point, and I'm not trained in combatting with dragons." Ellie said.
"I've only read about them in books, nothing really useful that can help us though." Aislynn said.
"Well, like Alex said, we must keep our wits about us, stick together and be ready to face the situation at hand." Mr. Foreman said.
"Right." Dorothy said looking back at them.
No one had any response at this point. They walked in completely silence for an hour or so before dark clouds began rolling in. Mr. Foreman looked up and sighed.
"Looks like it may rain." Mr. Foreman said.
"I know, I hope it doesn't." Ellie said looking up.
Toto stopped in his tracks and everyone looked at him. He then sniffed the air and whimpered. Mr. Foreman sighed and joined Dorothy and Alex at the head of the group.
"Toto's always been good at knowing when it's going to rain and have a torrential downpour." Dorothy said.
"So, judging by the fact that he whimpered, it's going to rain?" Alex asked.
"Yea, that tends to be what it means." Dorothy said.
"Great, that's lovely." Ellie said sarcastically.
"Well, if it rains it can't be helped, we'll just have to find shelter if it does." Mr. Foreman said as they started walking again.
"Well, we'll try to make as much progress as we can before it does rain." Dorothy said
"Good idea, if worst comes to worse we'll have to have to create some huts." Ellie said.
"Quite right, but let's not get distracted by this." Mr. Foreman said.
Everyone nodded in agreement and they continued to walk along. Dorothy constantly looked at the orb on the scepter and was constantly reminded that she was rather defenseless aside from her pea shooter. She sighed and moved closer to Alex. Taking his hand and squeezed it tightly. She was worried about her aunt uncle and cousins, it was knowing the jester hadn't harmed them that kept her going. These thoughts haunted her for an hour or so before a loud crack of thunder shook the forest. Ellie jumped and yelped in fright. Mr. Foreman sighed and instructed Aislynn and Ellie to set up the huts. As they were throwing down beans the first drops of rain began to fall. This time the beanstalks twisted and formed together as one large hut that they all were able to fit in with room to spare. A flash of lightning lit the forest and was followed by a loud crack of thunder. Ellie yelped again and sat down in a corner.
"I hate thunder." Ellie said.
"You were fine in the school." Alex said.
"I was terrified, but pretending was better than humiliating myself in front of everyone." Ellie said.
"Well, Ellie my dear, you're fears are completely normal." Mr. Foreman said walking over to her.
"Thanks Mr. Foreman." Ellie said.
"Mr. Foreman?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Yes ace?" Mr. Foreman replied turning to her.
"How is it that you always manage to be so encouraging even when things seem so dark?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Ace, in all the my years, I have seen so much, and in my profession I have helped so many that I have found that it is easy to calm people and give them hope, doing that gives me hope and the ability to carry on, and during my travels, I have learned that a person who has hope tends to run faster than a person who thinks they are doomed." Mr. Foreman said smiling.
"Wow, nicely spoken." Alex said.
"Thanks." Mr. Foreman said as another crack of thunder shook the surroundings.
Dorothy was about to say something in response when a flying monkey landed in front of the entrance to the hut and screeched. Aislynn screamed loudly and Ellie quickly got up and drew her sword. Alex took out his pea shooter and immediately shot a pea at the monkey. It screeched and backed up. Mr. Foreman immediately ran at the monkey and slugged him in the face. The monkey screeched again and flew up into the sky quickly. One louder crack of thunder shook the hut and the rain then began to pour down to the point where they could hardly see outside the door.
"Do you think it's gone?" Ellie asked curiously.
"I really doubt it." Alex said.
"Right, it's probably flying around outside waiting for us to come out so they can attack us." Dorothy said.
"That genuinely wouldn't surprise me now that I think about it." Ellie said.
"Me neither, and we've seen what the jester could do." Mr. Foreman said.
"Dorothy?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Yes ace?" Dorothy replied.
"I think we should go out." Aislynn said.
"Why?" everyone asked her in unison.
"Well, if we don't, they could always destroy the hut, and they could be meant as a distraction." Aislynn said.
"That's a good point ace, Alex?" Dorothy asked looking at him.
"I think ace is right, it's really the only options we have." Alex replied.
"Any objections?" Mr. Foreman asked.
"Nope." Ellie replied.
"Well then, Ellie, leave your satchel in here so it doesn't get soaked." Dorothy said.
Ellie nodded and took off her satchel. Mr. Foreman walked over to the entrance of the hut and signaled for them to come closer. Aislynn took out her sling shot and got some beans before taking off her own satchel. As they approached the entrance immediately another loud screech was heard and a monkey swooped down nearly hit Mr. Foreman.
"Do not let your guard down!" Mr. Foreman said as monkey swooped down and Mr. Foreman punched it mid swoop.
As they emerged from the hut immediately a flock of monkeys swooped down. Dorothy swung the scepter at monkeys as they swooped down upon her. She wasn't able to see much with the rain and a monkey came up behind her and grabbed her. She dropped the scepter in surprise and screamed as she was lifted off the ground and carried away.
"Dorothy!" Alex yelled.
"Alex, Follow them, leave a trail for the others!" Dorothy screamed.
The monkey's then retreated and the rain began to lighten up. Alex ran over to the scepter and quickly grabbed it.
"Don't follow after me until the rain has stopped completely, I'll leave a trail of peas behind me." Alex said running in the direction the monkeys had gone.
"So his intentions were to capture Dorothy, giving us a larger motivation to get to where ever he is faster, smart for a mad man." Mr. Foreman said looking over at Toto who was barking in the direction the monkeys had flown in and then ran after Alex.
Meanwhile farther in the woods.
When Toto finally caught up to Alex he was leaned against a tree catching his breath. The monkeys could still be seen in the distance. Alex sighed and continued running. Toto barked and ran after him. After maybe an hour of running and resting the monkeys could no longer be seen in the distance. Alex looked behind him and saw Toto sitting next to a pea plant from the peas he had dropped. He looked into the distance and could see a large castle carved into the side of a mountain. He looked at Toto and sighed. He couldn't bear to think of Dorothy in the jesters clutches. The thought of it made his eyes fill with tears.
"Alex!" Came Ellie's voice.
Alex turned to see Ellie, Aislynn, and Mr. Foreman approaching fast. Toto barked loudly and they picked up speed. When they got to Alex he sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. Mr. Foreman walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we'll rescue her as well as everyone else, what we need to do first is make a plan." Mr. Foreman said
Alex nodded in agreement and looked up at the castle. He would rescue her, even if it killed him.
Meanwhile at the forest hideout.
The monkey had given her a less than soft landing as he dropped her in front of the door of the mountain castle. Looking behind her she found that the mountain seemed to be in the middle of the woods. At the bottom of the mountain was a cave that Dorothy only assumed was the home of the dragons. The base was also completely surrounded by trees so it seemed almost impossible for someone to climb up unless they were really skilled at mountain climbing. Her thoughts were broken by the feeling of her arms being bound behind her back. She turned around to see the jester standing behind her a good distance away pointing the wand at her.
"Hello my pretty." The jester said in a tone reminiscent of his sister.
Dorothy glared at the jester angrily and waited for him to lead her to whatever chambers she would be kept in. he sighed and led her into the castle. They walked through the main hall and up several flights of stairs until they reached a large wooden door. Immediately the jester pushed open the door and she was immediately met with the sight of her cousins and Annabella in the crib. As well as her aunt and uncle chained to the wall next to the door. They sighed as she was brought into the room. Mr. And Mrs. Teak said nothing and neither did Glinda. The jester walked her across the room and motioned for her to sit down. She sighed and did this and immediately found one of her wrists chained to the wall. The jester then chuckled and walked out of the room shutting the door behind him. Dorothy then looked at the crystal ball which was focused on Alex, Ellie, Toto and Mr. Foreman. And sighed.
"So, how have you guys been?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Not bad, we can't get outside of this room but other than that it hasn't been that bad," Glinda said.
"Oh, how have the triplets been?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Rather quiet, the jester can't touch them." Em said.
"Why not?" Dorothy asked now really curious.
"They have my protective kiss, surprisingly it still worked, when I knew the jester was holding the school hostage I figured it was the only chance we had to protect them." Glinda said looking at them
"But then how did they get here in the first place then?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"The jester made sure the children wouldn't be left behind, myself, henry and Mrs. Teak each carried one." Em said.
"Glinda?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes dear?" Glinda replied.
"Do you know what the jester did with my satchel?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It's on the table now, I can't reach it, why?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Just because I've been worried since he took it." Dorothy said struggling against her chains.
"Sir?" Came a familiar sounding voice.
"What now!?" The jester asked.
"It's time for the children to be fed." The voice said as the door opened again.
Immediately they were met with a sight that they never expected to see. Dorothy's double, standing before them, dressed in the same outfit Dorothy was.
"It's me!" Dorothy said in surprise.
"Yes, I am indeed me, well you, more like your complete double." The girl said approaching Dorothy.
"Why did he create you?" Dorothy asked grabbing her wrist.
"Remember when he stole your hair ribbon?" Glinda asked causing them all to turn.
"Yea, why?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"This is why, he used a rather odd form of magic that allowed him to create a completely accurate double of you, shares most of your thoughts and feelings, but it is not the real you, it's more or less a decoy." Glinda said sighing.
"Nicely said lady Glinda, that is my purpose, to be the decoy, and you guys were to be informed on this when she was finally captured." The girl said.
"And why, of all things why, would you admit this plan?" Dorothy asked now confused.
"Because getting through the woods or passed the dragons is not the challenge, its figuring out which one of us is the real one." The girl said.
"And if they choose right?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Then my purpose is no longer needed, I cannot leave the boundaries of the jester's power, I will simply vanish into non being, because I technically don't exist." The girl said.
"And if they choose wrong?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"You remain his prisoner and I still vanish, they are allowed to leave but you are not." The girl said rummaging through her pockets and pulled out three baby bottles.
She then walked them over to Em and henry and handed them off to them. She then turned back to Dorothy and snapped her fingers. Immediately Dorothy's wrist was unchained and her arms were immediately tied behind her again. The girl then took Dorothy by the arm of her dress and dragged her off to the jester's chambers
Back in the woods.
When they finally got close to the base of the mountain Alex did as they had decided and took the lead of the group. They had decided to use a method that would keep them from having to harm the dragons and still get around them. It was a simple distraction method that Ellie had learned from her friends during her first few years in Glinda's army. Alex approached the cave and immediately the dragon Dorothy had seen earlier emerged. Alex took off at a run towards the dragon and it moved into Alex's path while Ellie ran behind the dragon, another one came out of the cave and blocked her path. Aislynn took off on the other side and a third dragon came out while Mr. Foreman and Toto ran in between the dragons. One of them roared and the three of them vanished. Ellie however was not satisfied.
"That was way too easy." Ellie said as they walked into the cave.
Inside the cave was a stair case going up. Having no other options they went up them and in an instant they all felt themselves lurch forward. The immediately fell forward into the chambers of the jester. He was standing in front of them smiling wickedly.
"Are you ready for the real challenge?" He asked as the room filled with lights.
Immediately they were met with the sight of the two Dorothy's both bound to a chair, one on the left and one on the right.
"What is this?" Alex asked worriedly.
"The stakes, one of these Dorothy's is a decoy, the other is your friend, you are to choose whichever one you think is your Dorothy, if you choose right the duplicate will disappear and you've passed the challenge and will be allowed to free your friends and family." He said chuckling.
"And if we choose wrong?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Then the duplicate still disappears, you guys are free to go, but Dorothy will remain here as a prisoner, your friends and family will be released as well, but Dorothy will remain my prisoner, so choose wisely, neither of them can talk or really move so you have no hints what so ever so good luck." The jester said laughing and disappearing.
"So, we have a fifty percent chance of getting Dorothy back and he didn't make this easy on us either." Alex said.
"For the record you are allowed to interact with them, they cannot interact with you." Came the jester's voice.
It was with this that Mr. Foreman chuckled and walked over to the two Dorothy's. He looked at them both all the way around. Alex then approached and their eyes opened. They both looked at Alex, they both looked completely alike. Alex looked at both Dorothy's the one on the right seemed on the verge of tears while the other just looked happy to see someone that wasn't an adult.
"Jester!" Alex shouted loudly.
"You called?" He asked chuckling.
"Let the others go to where ever you're keeping the others, I think I know who's who." Alex said.
"Very well." He said flicking the wand.
Immediately everyone but Toto, who was confused, Alex, and the two Dorothy's vanished. Alex approached the Dorothy with the tears forming in her eyes. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Immediately the Dorothy on the left vanished and the Dorothy he had just freed hugged him tightly. Immediately Alex let go of the scepter and returned the embrace. He was crying tears of happiness. The scepter sparked as it hit the ground causing Toto the bark at it. Dorothy smiled and pushed out of the embrace. She then pulled him into a quick kiss and walked over to the scepter.
"I'm so happy you were right." Dorothy said.
"Only you would be completely scared that I wouldn't choose right that you were crying." Alex said as the doors to the left and right of the throne opened.
"Come on, follow me." Dorothy said picking up the scepter and running through the door to the right.
They ran up several flights of stairs and found the jester standing by the door. Ellie, Aislynn and Mr. Foreman were working on freeing everyone from their chains.
"You chose well, the girl you love, you see I made this challenge to see how far each of you guys would go, and I failed in that extent, so with that I resign for now but I shall return, I'll bide my time." He said flicking the wand.
Immediately everyone was unshackled from their bindings. And the jester vanished. Dorothy ran over the table and grabbed Glinda's wand and her satchel. Under her satchel was another small note.
"And as you have guessed, you've gotten a jest, though I still laugh alone, it I still laugh well." Dorothy read aloud.
"He's not done, he'll come back." Alex said.
"Now how do we get home?" Aislynn asked curiously.
Em, henry and Mrs. Teak each grabbed one of the triplets and alex picked up Annabella. A door then appeared behind them. Handing Glinda her wand back and slinging her satchel over her shoulder she smiled and took the keys from her pocket. Placing the janitor keys in the lock she found that it turned instantly and door swung open. They found themselves staring into the school library. Alex was about to say something when they heard the sounds of the dragons screeching and they all ran quickly into the library and shut the door behind them. Toto barked a few times and ran over to table that Dorothy and her friends had been planning at two days previous. The scepter began glowing again after a few seconds. Dorothy sighed in relief and then walked over to the table. Alex then set down Annabella rummaged through his coat pockets and pulled out the handkerchief that he had wrapped Dorothy's flats in. he peeled away the tar coated fabric and showed the shoes to his father.
"Do you think you can repair them?" Alex asked looking at his dad.
He took the tar covered flats and examined them.
"Yes, but they won't look as good as they did." Mr. Teak said looking at Dorothy.
"That doesn't matter to me." Dorothy said as the library door open and Mr. Alistair ran in.
"Thank goodness, the jester had a crystal projecting your guy's entire adventure of the last three days." Mr. Alistair said.
"The doors are open now, send everyone home, close the school for a few days, I'll explain later." Glinda said.
Mr. Alistair nodded and looked outside. He was pleased to see the sunlight shining in. Dorothy walked over to the window and stared out. She knew this wasn't the end.
Well a simple end through the jester's trick, but we all know this isn't the end.