Disclaimer, you know.
That night at the dark crystal palace.
"You know she'll never abandon the people she cares about." Eliza said as the jester paced back and forth.
"Oh I know that, but I like having a little fun, wait a minute, why haven't I changed you into a puppet yet?" the jester asked turning to her.
"You need a way to get to Alex? I don't know, why haven't you turned the scarecrow or ace into puppets yet? Or Donna and Kelly, or their parents? " Eliza asked as a rebuttal.
"Because, well I don't know, I guess I could any time I wanted to, I just haven't, and I like having prisoners of war." The jester said.
"Oh and then there's Mr. and Mrs. Gale." Eliza added
"They have babies, I can't stand the sound of babies crying, that's why I would run whenever Alex's little sister would start crying." The jester argued.
"There's something more though, all of us, at least any of us who cared to ask, know that the triplets are protected and that you can't touch them." Eliza said.
"The protection will be gone once I destroy Dorothy once and for all." The jester said.
"Oh, well, if that's part of the plan then…" Eliza said trailing off.
"Wait a minute, why am I telling YOU everything?" the jester asked.
"Um, to relieve the monotony?" Eliza asked.
"Okay you're beginning to get annoying, NIKKO!" The jester shouted.
Immediately Nikko flew into the room and saluted.
"So, that's Nikko." Eliza said
"Nikko take the girl and put her with the others, then send out more of your troops and increase the search." The jester said.
Nikko saluted again and flew over to Eliza. He picked her up and flew out of the room. The jester then sighed and tried again to find Dorothy and her friends in the crystal. But to no avail.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the woods heading east.
Terrance and Finley had walked and flown for hours now. They had known that Dorothy and her friends would head towards the east as the west would most likely be a trap.
"Terrance, you should stop and rest, we can continue in the morning if you'd like." Finley said landing next to him and walking along side.
"I will stop when we find them, I would assume that they are heading for munchkin territory." Terrance said.
"And, what makes you assume that?" Finley asked with a mixture of curiosity and worry.
"Well, there isn't really anything else in the east beside the munchkin city, and that's where Dorothy ended up when she first arrived in Oz." Terrance said.
"But are you sure that's where she'll go?" Finley asked.
"Positive." Terrance said
Finley didn't respond, he simply nodded. After a few more minutes of walking however Finley said.
"I think I might be strong enough to carry you some of the way." Finley said.
"Well, if you think so, sure try it." Terrance said.
Finley nodded and flew upwards and behind Terrance. He then placed his hands underneath Terrance's arms and flew upwards a bit. Terrance was lifted nearly a foot off the ground before Finley started flying forward and they started on their journey again.
Later elsewhere in the woods.
Dorothy was now sitting on her bed inside the tent waiting for it to become morning. She hadn't been able to get any sleep at all. Toto and pockets were peacefully asleep at the foot of the bed. Dorothy wanted to try and get to the munchkin city before noon later. It was now what she was pretty sure was one in the morning. She sighed and got off the bed. She couldn't help but worry about what the jester might do. She was putting all of Oz in danger now being on the run like this. However her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Alex's voice.
"You know you won't have enough strength to continue the journey if you don't get any sleep." Alex said pushing himself into a sitting position.
"Alex, go back to sleep, this isn't my first sleepless night." Dorothy said.
Alex sighed and pulled out his pocket watch. He checked the time and sighed.
"Dorothy, it's almost two o'clock in the morning, you really should try to get some sleep." Alex said.
Dorothy sighed and got up, she then walked over Alex's bed and sat down on the bed. She then leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Alex, we need to try to get to the munchkin city before noon, that's my goal." Dorothy whispered.
"That's a very admirable goal, but do you think we can?" Alex asked curiously.
"I think so, if we keep on the pace we've been going." Dorothy said.
"If the jester doesn't send out the dragon, or the flying monkeys catch us." Alex said.
"Alex, don't remind me about all that." Dorothy said.
"Sorry." Alex said kissing her on the cheek.
Dorothy smiled and blushed. She then closed her eyes and eventually nodded. Alex chuckled and carefully lifted Dorothy off his shoulder and lay her down on the pillow. It was then that he heard rustling and whispering outside. Alex carefully got out of bed and picked up his sword and unsheathed it. He then picked up one of the oil lamps and slowly made his way over to the entrance of the tent.
"Do you think this is their camp?" came a rather not so quiet whispering voice.
"That's Alyssa's tent, I'm sure of it, not to mention we can't enter into the radius which means they have one of the swords." Came another whispering voice.
"Well, it's good to know the protection holds" Alex said to himself.
"Shh, I thought I heard something." one of the voices said.
"M-maybe w-w-we should wait? Till morning?" came the other voice.
Alex sighed and smiled. He was pretty sure he knew who the people were.
"Finley?" Alex said walking out of the tent.
"Master Alex?" Came Finley's voice.
"Yes, it's me, who's that with you?" Alex asked not sheathing is sword.
"Terrance." Came Terrance's voice.
"Finley, Terrance, what are you two doing here?" Alex asked walking over to them enveloping them in the light of the lamp.
"We fled the city when the jester took it over, it's not emerald any more, and it's dark crystal." Terrance said.
"But we were miles ahead of you guys I'd assume, how did you get to us?" Alex asked curiously.
"Finley flew us most of the way, we might have found this place earlier if I hadn't given Finley a chance to rest." Terrance said.
"Yea, I'm never, doing that again." Finley replied.
"Right, anyways, is there any way to life the protection long enough to let you guys in?" Alex asked curiously.
"Well who place the sword by the entrance of the tent?" Terrance asked curiously.
"Dorothy, why?" Alex replied.
"Is she awake?" Terrance asked curiously.
"No, she just fell asleep actually." Alex said.
"Well don't wake her, it's too late at night, Finley and I can wait out here till sunrise." Terrance said.
"Fine, um, question, do you think it would be physically possible to reach the munchkin city by Noon?" Alex asked curiously.
"See, I told you Finley, anyways, if you keep up a good pace then yes." Terrance said
"Okay then, good, well I'm going to go back to bed, see you two at sunrise." Alex said heading back towards the tent.
"See you at sunrise." Terrance said drawing his own sword.
Alex turned back and smiled. He was happy to know that Dorothy's plan could work out in their favor. He just had to wait for sunrise.
Well that was a nice reunion even if it was in the middle of the night. The next chapter will have the group setting off once more. Will they reach the munchkin city? Or will they be stopped by the jester somehow? Will Locasta's spell manage to hold until Dorothy is finally ready to face the jester? Find out as you read on.