Disclaimer. You know.
Dorothy found herself up at the crack of dawn. She went into her dresser and pulled out her usual dress and shirt. She quickly changed into then shook Toto awake. He barked a few times before Dorothy shushed him. She quietly went into the living room and grabbed her satchel and went back to her room. She rummaged through her satchel and pulled out her reading glasses which she pocketed. She then picked up the slippers and placed them in her satchel before plucking the scepter out of the air and placing the satchel over her shoulder. She then heard tapping on her bedroom window. She walked over to the window and pushed it open. Standing in front of her was Alex. She looked out and saw that he was standing on a metal bucket.
"How?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"My mom brought me." Alex said.
"Well, climb in, no sense in us both catching cold." Dorothy said grabbing his hands and helping him climb in.
"Thanks." Alex said climbing in.
"No problem." Dorothy said shutting the window and shivering.
"Sleep well?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yea, you?" Dorothy replied.
"After we got home last night I spent about an hour putting away my suit so that it wouldn't get wrinkled." Alex said.
"But after that?" Dorothy asked.
"Oh, yes, afterwards I slept fine." Alex said.
"That's good." Dorothy said.
"Where are the slippers?" Alex said looking around.
"In my satchel." Dorothy said.
"So you're wearing your boots?" Alex asked.
"No." Dorothy replied.
"Well it's too cold, even in Oz to be barefoot." Alex said.
Dorothy was about to argue this point but the scepter began glowing. Dorothy picked up Toto just as Alex grabbed onto the scepter. Dorothy then felt herself lurch forward. The usual feeling of nausea and dizziness ensued before she felt her feet make contact with the floor of the chambers. Toto barked a few times to make sure she was alright. Dorothy caught her breath and her balance and then helped Alex up. She then saw Glinda standing by the entrance to scarecrows workshop.
"Would you two mind helping him? He's tuning up the rainbow mover." Glinda said sighing.
"Sure." Dorothy said.
"What do we need to do?" Alex asked curiously.
"Just do what he tells you." Glinda replied before vanishing.
Dorothy looked at Alex and shrugged. They then walked over to the workshop where they found scarecrow underneath the rainbow mover tightening some bolts.
"Good morning Dorothy, good morning Alex." Scarecrow said not looking up for his work.
"Morning scarecrow." Dorothy and Alex said in unison.
"Dorothy, do me a favor and grab me that screwdriver over there on the table?" scarecrow asked.
"Sure." Dorothy said walking over to the table.
As she grabbed the screwdriver a mouse ran passed her hand and caused her to jump. The queen of field mice followed shortly afterwards. Dorothy chuckled and grabbed the first mouse by the tail and then called Alex over
"You need something Dorothy? Oh yikes" Alex said as his eyes fell on the mouse in Dorothy's hand.
"Alex, this is the queen of the field mice, and this I can only assume is one of her children." Dorothy said placing the mouse down on the table.
"Let me go or you'll be bitten." The mouse in her hand squeaked out.
"Please excuse my son, but be careful he really does bite." The queen said.
"I'm sure he means well your majesty." Dorothy replied.
"He does, he's pretty mischievous Dorothy." The queen replied.
Dorothy was about to say something when the mouse she was holding bit her hand. Dorothy yelped and dropped the mouse as well as the screwdriver making scarecrow look up.
"Your majesty, you need to control that kid of yours or we'll need to put him in a cage, that's the third person he's bit this morning." Scarecrow said getting up.
"Sorry scarecrow, you know he means well, he's just easily angered." The queen said.
"But he's a menace, and he just bit Dorothy, two guards, and has tried to bite me several times, it's not good for the people in the city either." Scarecrow said picking up the screwdriver and returning to his work.
"I heard screaming, did someone just get bitten?" Elena asked sticking her head in.
"Yea, me." Dorothy examining the fresh bite mark,
Elena sighed and walked over. She took Dorothy's hand in her own and examined it. She then rummaged through her little pouch and pulled out a little bottle of red fluid. Dripping it on the wound caused it to burn for a second or two but then it was gone.
"Thank goodness Glinda gave me this, you'll be fine, just don't get bitten again or I'm going to have to get more." Elena said putting away the bottle.
"I'll do my best." Dorothy said looking at where the bite had been.
"And that should do it." The scarecrow said getting up.
"Do what?" they all asked in unison.
"One of the components of the rainbow mover came lose and was creating at really irritating rattling noise." Scarecrow said flipping it on.
Immediately the machine hummed to life and the screens flickered on. The rainbow colored light then shot out the top in a beautiful array.
"Scarecrow, it's brilliant, as always." Dorothy said looking at the lights coming the top.
"Dorothy, why don't you go to your room, take Toto with you." Elena suggested as the scarecrow walked to the far end of the room chuckling.
"Come on alex." Dorothy said grabbing Alex's wrist and dragging him along.
It didn't take either of them long to get to Dorothy's room. When the three of them arrived Dorothy shut the door and locked it. She then took off her satchel and placed it on the bedside table. Dorothy then showed Alex her sketches and then tried to teach him how to do it. However they were interrupted by the sound of squeaking.
"Hello?" Came the voice of the mouse that had bitten her.
"Yes?" Dorothy asked looking around.
"Are you really Dorothy?" The mouse asked coming out from behind the jar of pencils on the desk.
"Well, I'm the one that everyone talks about." Dorothy said.
"I'm sorry I bit you earlier, if I had known." The mouse said trailing off.
"That's okay, you didn't know, but you can't go around biting people all the time." Dorothy said.
"It's what I do best, I can bit through just about anything." The mouse replied.
"Dorothy, if you need me, I'll be on the bed, I hate mice, got bitten by one when I was around Annabella's age and have been scared of them since." Alex said walking away.
"Bit squeamish?" The mouse said.
"No, it's just that you guys have freaked me out since I was a little kid." Alex said turning back.
"Well we only bite out of defense or if we are scared, or if you're me it's what you do best." The mouse said.
"Oh, I know that, but that never stopped me from not liking you guys." Alex said.
"Understandable." The mouse replied.
"Do you have a name?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Charles, but everyone calls me Biter." The mouse replied.
"I like that name, it fits you." Alex said chuckling.
"Thanks, I know." The mouse replied.
"That's Alex, and that dog down there is Toto." Dorothy replied.
"At least you don't have a cat." The mouse said walking over to the edge of the table.
"We've actually thought about getting one though, so that my friend Aislynn can have a companion of her own." Dorothy said.
"That's nice, you won't see much of any of us if you do get one." The mouse replied.
"I sort of gathered." Dorothy said.
"What were you doing by the way?" the mouse asked looking at the paper.
"Teaching alex how to sketch." Dorothy said.
"Good for a beginner, but I've seen better drawings around the emerald city." The mouse replied.
"Yes, they were probably mine, I get the feeling my friends take my sketches from my room before compiling them into a large book." Dorothy said.
"Yes but they only range to scenery around the emerald city, why don't you sketch other places?" the mouse asked.
"Because she hardly leaves the emerald city." Glinda said appearing in the room.
"Good morning Lady Glinda." The mouse said bowing.
"Morning Biter." Glinda replied.
"Why don't you really leave the emerald city?" the mouse asked.
"Because, these guys don't let me, for my own protection, you know with the jester and all." Dorothy said.
"Oh, well I guess that's a good reason." The mouse replied.
"Actually Glinda, can I ask for your blessing to go to the witch's castle in the west?" Dorothy asked.
"Why?" Glinda responded.
"I don't know, I just feel that I should, I don't know why though." Dorothy said.
"Well, you may have my blessing, but you must take Alex as an escort." Glinda said.
"You know I'll protect her." Alex said walking over.
"Well, then you have my blessing, just be careful." Glinda said vanishing.
"Well, I should be going, sorry again for biting you." The mouse said before running off.
Dorothy smiled and tightened her grasp on the scepter. She then walked over to her satchel and took the slippers out of it. She then slid them on and waved the scepter in the direction of the door. The lock clicked and the door swung open. The three of them then left the room and headed out of the emerald city to the docks. When they got to Tugg he greeted them in his usual way.
"Good morning Dorothy, Good morning Alex." Tugg said.
"Morning Tugg." Dorothy said as Toto barked a few times.
"Ah yes, good morning Toto, where are you three off to this early?" Tugg asked curiously.
"The witch's castle." Dorothy said as the three of them walked onto the deck.
Tugg said nothing in response. He simply cast off and went in the direction of the castle. When they got to the tunnel Alex was amazed by the lanterns that lit the proper path.
"Glinda set these here a while back, that way people don't take the fork on the right and end up off a waterfall." Dorothy said.
"I take it that it happened to you?" Alex asked.
"Yep." Dorothy replied.
As they emerged from the cave it wasn't hard to notice the change in atmosphere between here and the emerald city. It always felt foreboding in this area of oz. an evil presence followed one everywhere. When they got to the dock by the castle the three of them disembarked. As they got to the castle gate Toto whimpered rather loudly.
"This place seems really scary." Alex said.
"I've been here several times, and the first time was more or less against my own will." Dorothy said.
"Yea, I've heard the story." Alex replied.
"Most people have." Dorothy said pushing open the door.
As the three of them walked in the door slammed behind them and a large metal portcullis came down in front of it. It didn't take any of them long to realize they had just walked into a trap. Immediately they heard the sound of the jester's laugh.
"What brings you back to my sister's castle?" The jester asked walking into the room.
"I don't know, I just felt like I had to come here, I realize that this was definitely a mistake." Dorothy said as Alex walked in front of her.
"Oh know, I only came here because I knew you were coming, this was more of a last minute arrangement." The jester said taking out the wand.
Dorothy pushed Alex out of the way and held the scepter out in defense. Toto whimpered worriedly and it was then that she noticed the orb had gone dark again. Dorothy felt her stomach drop as she realized she was once more defenseless against the jester.
"I really hate you sometimes." Dorothy said taking a step back
"Not so brave without the scepter are we?" The jester asked teasingly.
"We've seen what you can do, give me a good reason not to be afraid." Dorothy said.
"There is no reason, human nature allows us to run on fear." The jester said.
"Well, what do you want then?" Alex asked curiously.
"Oh nothing really, I just figured it would be fun to trap you here, give your friends something to do, and don't even thing your little rainbow mover can get you out of here, this castle is currently impenetrable, your friends will have to figure out how to break my spells on their own." The jester said chuckling before he vanished.
Dorothy sighed and went over to the crank for the portcullis and tried to turn it. This resulted in her getting a rather nasty shock which caused her to jump back.
"So, we're trapped now?" Alex asked curiously.
"Well unless you want to try climbing out a window, but the resulting drop is far too dangerous." Dorothy replied.
"Right, you were held prisoner here before." Alex said
"Yes, and if I know Glinda she's currently watching us in her little crystal ball rather worried about our wellbeing." Dorothy said walking over to the staircase and sitting down.
"Probably." Alex said joining her.
Back in the emerald city, in the chambers.
"So he's trapped them in the castle with just about no means of escape?" Ellie asked looking at the group.
"But they can't get out and we can't get in which makes things slightly more complicated." Alison said.
"Yes, and dark magic is really difficult to combat." Glinda said.
"Well, we need a plan then, Ellie go contact the gales and let them know of the current situation." The china princess said.
Ellie nodded and walked over to the mirror at the back of the chambers and took out bottle. She uncorked it and splashed its contents on the mirror. When the image of the inside of the gale farmhouse appeared in the mirror Ellie immediately called out to for Em and Henry. Em was the one who responded.
"Ellie, is Dorothy with you guys?" Em asked.
"Well, she's here in Oz, so is Alex, but they are both currently stuck in the witch's castle, the jester has trapped them." Ellie said.
"Is there anything you guys can do?" Em asked worriedly.
"Yes, we just don't know what that is yet." Ellie replied.
"Well, I have to go help henry with the kids, keep us updated on the situation." Em said as the image faded.
Ellie looked at her reflection in the mirror as the image returned to normal. She sighed and began to wonder what they were going to do. However unknown to all of them there was an observer, who had been listening to the issue at hand and was coming up with a plan of his own.
Back at the castle.
"So, what do we do now?" Alex asked as Toto jumped into his lap.
"I don't know, I didn't expect to get trapped." Dorothy said.
"I think that's the point of a trap, you're not supposed to expect it." Alex said.
"I know that, but I didn't think the jester would ever come back here." Dorothy said.
"Yes, well he said that it was a last minute arrangement." Alex said.
"He also said the castle was impenetrable, and yet he knows that our friends can get us out of here." Dorothy said.
"Well, nothings completely impenetrable." Alex said.
Dorothy was about to respond when a cold wind blew through the entire castle. She shivered and inched closer to Alex.
"For some reason I feel like I'd rather be stuck as a cat again than stuck in this situation." Dorothy said.
"Don't say that, we don't want to give him any ideas." Alex said.
"Sorry." Dorothy said leaning her head on his shoulder.
Toto whimpered worriedly for a bit before jumping off of Alex's lap and walked over to a corner and curled up to take a nap. Dorothy sighed and got up, continuing up the staircase to the tower. As she ascended up the steps memories of her first trip to Oz flooded back. The memories of how terrified she was the first time she was in this tower. When she reached the tower she found the door hadn't been repaired since tin man had hacked it open all those years ago. As she stepped into the room she found that the room looked as if it hadn't been touched in years. However in the corner of the room was a full size mirror with a golden frame. As she approached it Alex walked in to the room. His eyes fell on the mirror and he immediately pulled Dorothy back.
"I don't like the look of that thing." Alex said.
"Me neither, but it's the only thing here that wasn't here during my last visits." Dorothy said.
"Well we should get out of here, this room gives me the creeps." Alex said.
"This was the room I was kept in when the witch captured me all those years back." Dorothy said.
"And?" Alex asked curiously.
"It gives me the creeps as well." Dorothy said walking over to the window.
"Well, if you need me, I'll be down stairs with Toto." Alex said walking out.
Dorothy sighed and leaned against the window. Looking out at the scenery of the west. It was gloomy as it often was. She sighed and looked at the scepter. It was dark but it didn't feel any different. She waved it in the direction of the mirror. Nothing happened. She sighed again and walked back out of the room and back down stairs. When she got to the bottom she found Alex sitting there waiting for her. She sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheek. It was then that she heard the sound of squeaking again. She looked around and got up.
"I think I hear, a mouse." Dorothy said looking around.
"Oh joy." Alex said.
Dorothy was about to say something be she decided that it would be better to just find the source. Toto got up and sniffed around and barked. Dorothy walked over to him and found Biter standing in a hole in the wall.
"Biter! How did you get here?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"There's a system of our tunnels between here and the emerald city, there's a large dead tree by the docks that we use to get between here and the city." Biter said walking out of the hole.
Dorothy smiled and knelt down allowing for Biter to climb into her hand. She then walked over to Alex.
"Does your mother know you're here?" Dorothy asked.
"No, and admittedly I shouldn't even know you are here." Biter replied.
"So you were spying?" Alex asked
"Yes, and your friends are on their way, they haven't got a plan yet but it's a start." Biter said.
"Well, at least you can keep us company." Dorothy said.
"Does he have to stay?" Alex asked.
"Yes dear." Dorothy said setting biter on her shoulder.
"Fine, just keep the mice away from me." Alex said.
"Dorothy? Alex?" Came Ellie's voice from the other side of the door.
Dorothy and Alex both ran over to the door. The portcullis kept them from even getting near the door.
"Ellie!" Dorothy shouted.
"Dorothy, we're here to try and get you guys out, any ideas?" Ellie asked.
"Well Biter is here." Dorothy said.
"He hasn't bitten you yet has he?" Ellie asked worriedly.
"He did earlier when Alex and I got to the city." Dorothy said.
"Wait a minute, Biter, how did you get in there?" Ellie asked curiously.
"There's a system of tunnels connecting the west to the emerald city, there's a dead tree behind you with a system of tunnels." Dorothy said.
"Wait so biter can get out of there?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Yes, he can, why?" Dorothy asked looking at Biter.
"We can use him to our advantage, Dorothy send biter out." Ellie said.
Dorothy looked at biter and nodded. She then set him down on the floor and he ran over to the mouse hole. Dorothy, I'm going to send Biter back to the emerald city with a message for my sister." Ellie said.
"Are any of the others here?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Dorothy give me a minute I'm writing a small note to give to Biter." Ellie said.
"Don't worry, we have time." Alex said.
"Dorothy, Aislynn is down at the docks with Tugg, Glinda sent us to at least try and keep you guys from going insane." Ellie said.
"Ellie, we're fine." Dorothy said.
"I wish there was a way we could get in there though" Ellie said.
"Well there's a large portcullis keeping us from getting out, we can't raise it the normal way nor can we get any closer than we are now." Alex said.
"Yes, we know, we were watching." Ellie said.
Later in the emerald city.
When Biter finally arrived with the message to the emerald city he went straight to Glinda's room. Glinda was busy looking through the books in her room.
"Lady Glinda?" Biter asked.
"Oh, biter, who'd you bite this time?" Glinda asked not even looking way from her books.
"No one, I have a message, from Ellie" Biter said.
Glinda turned around and looked at biter. She saw that he had a folded up piece of paper tied to his tail. Glinda walked over and picked him up. He immediately pulled his tail to his mouth and bit the small piece of string attaching the note to his tail. Glinda picked it up and read it. She looked at Biter angrily and then chuckled.
"Well, I see one of two solutions at this point, there is a third but I really don't want to have to use it." Glinda said.
"Which are?" biter asked curiously.
"All in good time." Glinda said