Disclaimer, you know.
Later in the emerald city.
After Aislynn, Ellie and Toto had been sent to emerald city and had gone to their bedrooms, Ellie had actually gone straight to bed. Meanwhile Aislynn waiting till the early hours of the morning before sneaking to the library. When she got there she found it completely empty to her relief. She quietly walked over to the bookshelves and grabbed herself a book. She then walked over to the chairs and began to read. Elsewhere in the emerald city scarecrow was talking with his two closest companions.
"Glinda said she sent them here for their safety." Scarecrow said to both of them
"But haven't we already established that the jester can still get into the city regardless?" Tin man asked sounding worried.
"Well he does show up, I'll tear him limb from limb!" the lion shouted.
"What is it with you and wanting to tear people limb from limb?" Tin man asked sounding concerned.
"I'm a Lion, maybe you should borrow some of scarecrow's brains tin head." Lion replied.
"Complete sense of realization and irritation." The tin man said rolling his eyes.
"Would you two stop arguing?" scarecrow asked curiously.
"Sorry straw man." Lion said scratching the back of his neck.
"Yea, sorry scarecrow." Tin man said.
"Look, I'm going to head to the library, try not to get in anymore arguments while I'm gone." Scarecrow said grabbing a stack of books and walking out of the chambers.
As he walked towards the library he heard a sound that he thought was beautiful. It was singing, but he couldn't make out the source. As he got closer to the library the sound of the singing. When he got to the library door he found it slightly ajar. He looked in and saw Aislynn sitting in one of the arm chairs.
"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me, every so often, promise me you'll try, on that day, that not so distant day, when you are far away and free, if you ever a moment, spare a thought for me." Aislynn quietly sang to herself.
Scarecrow was entranced, he found himself falling in love with her. The true heir to the throne of the emerald city. He backed away from the door and immediately bumped into the china princess, who was once more wearing her pendant. This caused him to drop his stack of books.
"China princess, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I didn't scuff your finish did I?" Scarecrow asked kneeling down to pick up the books.
The china princess examined herself quickly and determined that she was alright. She chuckled and bent down to help the scarecrow with his books.
"I'm fine, you just need to learn to watch where you're going that's all." The China princess replied.
"I know, I know." The scarecrow said rolling his eyes.
"You know, it's a good thing we don't have that many staircases around here, you would most likely miss a step and go tumbling down them." The china princess said chuckling.
"Oh be quiet." The scarecrow said picking up the pile of books and pushing the library door open.
"Hello scarecrow." Aislynn said looking up from her book.
"Ace? You're up rather early." Scarecrow said managing to make it sound like he hadn't been spying outside the door.
"Technically I'm up rather late." Aislynn said marking her page and getting up.
"You mean you've been up all night?" the china princess asked walking in with a book the scarecrow had missed.
"Yea, it's not unusual for me, I used to stay up all night reading when my grandfather was alive." Aislynn said taking some of the books out of scarecrow's pile.
"Aislynn, you're still a child, you need to get your rest." Scarecrow said sounding concerned.
"Scarecrow, I'm fine." Aislynn said chuckling.
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't get some sleep." The China princess said placing the book on one of the many tables.
"But I'm not sleepy." Aislynn replied.
"What is it now three in the morning?" scarecrow asked looking for a clock.
"Almost half past four." Aislynn said pointing to the clock.
"Aislynn you've been up all morning?" the china princess asked now showing concern and slight disapproval.
"Yes mam." Aislynn said hanging her head in shame.
"Well, it can't be helped now." Scarecrow said putting the books back into place.
"I think we may have to start using the lock on this door at night." The china Princess said in a threatening tone.
"What good will that do? She's a smart kid who could probably easily bypass any lock." Scarecrow said.
"I'm glad you have so much faith in me." Aislynn said chuckling.
"Aislynn I'm serious, Glinda already doesn't sleep much and everyone at the gale farmhouse are forcing her to get a full night's sleep." China princess said.
"Well I'm sorry that I've upset you." Aislynn said walking back to the chair and returning to her book.
Scarecrow shot the China Princess a rather irritated looked and then returned to his work.
Meanwhile In the room.
Alex and Dorothy found themselves being abruptly woken up by the sound of the jester banging on a gong. Both of them sat up abruptly in surprise while the cats huddled together in the corner.
"What was that for?" Alex asked covering his ears.
"I figured it would be funny." The jester said chuckling.
"Yea scaring the living the daylights out of us is definitely funny." Dorothy said sounding a bit irritated.
"Hey, I thought it was funny." The jester said walking over.
"I'm assuming its breakfast time then?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"You guessed it." The jester said chuckling.
Dorothy looked at Alex and sighed. She then got up and walked over to the cats.
"Don't worry guys, it's just the jester being himself." Dorothy said in a calm voice.
Alex smiled and got up. He walked over to the table to find two plates of toast and eggs sitting there. Next to each plate was an apple. Dorothy joined him after a few minutes and they both sat down at the table. The jester chuckled, tucked the gong under his arm, and vanished.
"You know that probably would have been funny if there had been an audience and if people being woken up by the sound of a gong was still funny." Alex said as they ate.
"I just don't like getting the living daylights scared out of me." Dorothy said taking a bite out of her apple.
"I don't think the cats enjoyed it either." Alex said.
"That reminds me." Dorothy said getting up and walking over to the picnic basket.
She then took out the can opener as well as two more cans of tuna. She also took out the opened bottle of milk and brought it over to the metal bowls and saucer she had set out the day before. The cats had finished off the milk completely from the saucer. She poured more milk into the saucer and then opened up the cans of tuna and once more divvied them out evenly between the five metal bowls. As soon as this was done she called for the cats and went back to the table.
"Smart." Alex said watching as the cats walked over and began eating.
"I figured they'd be hungry." Dorothy said holding her hand out as the scepter flew into it.
"I'm glad that thing still relatively works." Alex said smiling.
"Same, but that doesn't solve the problem that we're still stuck here." Dorothy said leaning the scepter against the table.
Alex was about to say something when pockets ran over, jumped up and latched onto his pant leg. Alex smiled. Leaned over and picked her up. She immediately jumped out of his hand and climbed into Alex's shirt pocket. Alex chuckled as she poked her head out and looked around.
"I think she likes you." Dorothy said giggling.
"Why don't you ask her? You're the one who has the ability to communicate with animals." Alex said chuckling.
"Pockets?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yes?" Pockets replied.
"Do you like alex?" Dorothy asked.
"He seems nice." Pockets said climbing out of Alex's pocket and jumping onto the table.
"She says you seem nice." Dorothy said chuckling.
"Thanks pockets, thanks." Alex said.
"You know, I got the ability to communicate with animals on accident, its fun to listen to the birds go by and even chat with the horse every now and again." Dorothy said finishing off her breakfast.
"Must be fun." Alex said sarcastically.
Dorothy smiled and picked up pockets. She then allowed her to climb into the top pocket of her dress. Dorothy smiled and picked up her satchel. She took out a pair of socks and the flats. They were the silver ones that had been ruined by the tar pit. Mr. Teak had done a rather nice job at trying to restore them but there was some damage that just couldn't be undone. The socks were white and had frills along the tops which Dorothy didn't like. She then took pockets out of her pocket and set her on the table. She then took another sock out of the satchel and set it next to pockets. Not surprisingly she decided to try and go in it. Dorothy giggled and they watched as pockets managed to get into the sock and shift herself around so that she could stick her head out. Both Dorothy and Alex found this hilarious. Eve then walked over and jumped up on the table.
"Pockets get out of there." Eve said as she took the end of the sock in her mouth and tried to pull it.
"Oh let her have some fun eve, I think it's cute." Dorothy said putting on her own pair of socks and sliding on the flats.
"I know, but she could get stuck." Eve said.
"It's a sock, how is she going to get stuck?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It could happen." Eve replied.
"If it does I'll get her out." Dorothy said.
"I hope so." Eve said jumping off the table and walking over to her kids.
"So, what do you want to do?" Alex asked curiously.
"I don't know to be honest, I may do some more sketching." Dorothy said referring to her little stack of paper.
"We should probably contact the others later." Alex said picking up the hand mirror which had been left on the table.
Dorothy looked at Alex and sighed. She then got up and walked over to the cats and sat down. Alexa immediately walked up to her and jumped up on her lap. She then laid back and held Alexa up to her face. Alexa meowed and licked Dorothy on the nose making her giggle. Oddball and patch climbed up on Dorothy's chest and stretched out before walking up to Dorothy's neck and nuzzled their noses into Dorothy's neck making her giggle more.
"They really like you Dorothy." Alex said getting up and walking over with pockets, who was still in the sock.
"I know." Dorothy said as Alex set pockets down on the floor.
Pockets then struggled and eventually emerged from the sock before joining her siblings. She nuzzled into Dorothy's neck and then walked down to her feet and tried to nudge one of Dorothy's flats off with her nose.
"Wow, you're sort of like Toto, except he tried to get to my friend Ellie's shoes." Dorothy said crossing her ankles over each other and using her other foot to slide of one of the flats.
Dorothy laughed as pockets began walking around the shoe to examine. She then climbed into it and sat down. Dorothy then picked up Alexa, oddball and patch and sat up, she then crossed her legs and set the three of them down on her lap. Eve then climbed onto Dorothy's lap and curled up next to her children.
"Pockets is the energetic one isn't she?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes." Dorothy said watching as pockets climbed out of Dorothy's flat and began pushing it around with her nose.
"She keeps herself amused doesn't she?" Alex said chuckling and sitting down next to Dorothy.
"yea." Dorothy said
"We should still contact the others though, they'll probably be worried about what happened to us after the jester caught us talking to them." Alex said putting an arm around Dorothy.
"I know, but he's still going to be watching us." Dorothy said leaning against Alex's arm.
Meanwhile back in Kansas.
It was now quarter to five in the morning. Glinda's eyes opened as she got up and stretched. Alyssa had fallen asleep in the chair she had been using. Her wand was leaned up against the wall. Glinda sighed and got up. She grabbed her wand and her own shoes and quietly walked out of the room. She sighed and carefully put her shoes on the floor and slid them on. She then quietly walked out of the farm house. She sat down on the porch and watched as the sky began to get slightly brighter. She shivered as a cold wind blew by her. She felt much more relaxed and calm now that she had actually gotten a full night's sleep.
"Sleep well?" Alyssa asked walking out of the house.
"I was trying to make sure you didn't get woken up." Glinda said.
"Yea, well, I woke up about a minute or so ago, you didn't leave a note so I assumed you were still here." Alyssa said sitting down next to Glinda.
"How's Terrance doing? Just figured I'd ask." Glinda said looking over at her head soldier.
"He's doing well, have you talked with Locasta recently?" Alyssa asked curiously.
"Yea, she's alright, she'll be joining us in the emerald city soon." Glinda said.
"Hopefully it won't have to go to war though, for Dorothy's sake." Alyssa said.
"I know, she gets so upset at even mere mention of the possibility." Glinda said sighing and shivering again.
"Yes but that's not the only thing that sets her off." Alyssa replied.
"I know." Glinda said sighing.
"She's more worried about us though, us and her family, now that she has her little cousins to worry about." Alyssa said.
"Yes but if she were to find out about my meddling." Glinda said trailing off.
"Or learning about the secret we've been keeping from her." Alyssa said.
"Oh gosh, don't even mention that, I shudder at the though, she'd be so upset with us about it." Glinda said looking worried.
"It's for her protection as well as for the protection of the triplets, it's for the greater good." Alyssa said.
I guess you're right." Glinda said smiling.
Alyssa said nothing in response. She merely chuckled and looked out at the fields.
Later back in the room.
Dorothy had decided to go back to sketching. She took off her flats and allowed for pockets to fool around with them. As she watched pockets she began to realize how much she missed Toto. She was currently making a sketch of pockets playing with her flats. Alex was sitting at the table across from her watching her. Alex had checked his watch. It was now six in the morning. He passed his watch to Dorothy and she looked at the time.
"Why don't you try and contact them, I'm sure someone is awake by now." Dorothy suggested passing back the watch
Alex nodded and grabbed the mirror and the potion bottle. He then dripped what was left of the contents of the potion on the mirror. After a minute the mirror began to ripple and the inside of the gale farmhouse appeared. Glinda was sitting on the couch relieved to see that they were alright.
"Alex, is Dorothy there with you still?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Yea, I'm over here." Dorothy said as Alex held up the mirror to Dorothy's face.
"Oh, thank goodness you both are okay, did the jester do anything to you two for contacting us yesterday?" Glinda asked worriedly
"No, he's just keeping a closer eye on us." Dorothy said.
"And dropping in more often." The jester said appearing behind Dorothy.
"And waking us up with by banging a gong." Alex said rather irritated.
Glinda couldn't help but snort and snicker. She found the thought of that rather funny.
"Hey, it wasn't funny, have you ever been woken up by the sound of someone banging on a gong before?" Dorothy asked sounding rather upset by this.
"Sorry, sorry, I know I'm having a laugh at your guy's expense but the thought of that is hilarious." Glinda said.
"Hey I thought it was funny." The jester said shrugging.
"Where did you even get a gong?" Alex asked curiously.
"I have my ways." The jester said chuckling.
"Never mind." Alex said shaking his head in defeat.
"Wait, where's Ellie and Aislynn?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"They're fine, they're in emerald city, your family and friends forced me to get a full night's sleep, even Alyssa who kept watch on me all night to make sure I slept and while I'm asleep I can't protect, so I sent them to the city." Glinda said
"Well then, perhaps you'd like to join Dorothy and Alex here, then all you'll be able to do is observe, eat, sit around, and sleep." The jester said in a threatening, yet teasing tone.
"Don't you dare do that!" All three of them shouted in unison
The jester immediately let out a wicked laugh. Em and henry then ran into the room carrying the triplets crying in their arms. Immediately when they saw the jester in the mirror the three of them fell silent.
"Wow, you cause my sister to cry yet Dorothy's cousins aren't intimidated by you." Alex said
"Shut it!" The jester said as the mirror began to ripple.
"Dorothy, we'll talk to you later." Em said as the image faded away.
As the mirror faded completely Dorothy looked up at the jester.
"Don't you dare bring Glinda here, Oz will fall into ruin without her to protect it." Dorothy said trying to sound threatening.
The jester said nothing, he merely smiled wickedly and vanished.
Well then, what is there to ask?
Songs: think of me, ALW
Credit for the singing idea goes to A.C. thank you. I apologize for not using your ballad but I didn't think that sounded like something that would fit in the story.