Disclaimer, you know.
Early the next morning, shortly before sunrise Dorothy woke up to find the fireplace roaring with fire once more. She sat up and looked around to find Alex standing in front of the fireplace the slippers in one hand, the scepter in the other.
"Well?" Alex asked turning to her.
"Good morning." Dorothy said as she stood up.
"That's not what I meant, I mean, well? Are you ready?" Alex said.
"And that was supposed to be implied?" Dorothy asked taking the slippers and the scepter from him.
"I would hope so, I mean we are departing in an hour or so, Ellie and Angela are making a quick breakfast for before our departure" Alex said.
"Fair enough I guess." Dorothy said sliding on the slippers and listening around.
Dorothy smiled and turned just as Ellie walked in behind them. Without saying a word she tossed an apple to Dorothy. Immediately let go of the scepter and caught the apple.
"Thanks Ellie, but next time fair warning." Dorothy said shining the apple on her dress and taking a bite.
"nah." Ellie said giggling.
Dorothy giggled and nearly choked on the piece of apple she had in her mouth. Alex sighed and rubbed Dorothy's back in a circular motion.
"I hope you three will be ready for departure, we'll be leaving at sunrise and should arrive at the munchkin city by seven." Angela said looking out the window.
"Do any of you have an umbrella or a jacket I could borrow?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"You can have my old cloak. "Angela said opening a wardrobe and pulling out a light blue cloak.
"Thank you Angela, but I couldn't insist on keeping it." Dorothy said walking over to her.
Angela said nothing but helped fix the cloak on Dorothy. Dorothy sighed and allowed Angela to continue.
"It's just your size anyways." Angela said.
Dorothy sighed and looked at Alex.
"Well I think it makes you look beautiful dear." Alex said.
"I agree." Ellie replied.
Dorothy smiled and helped out her hand allowing for the scepter to fly to her hand. She then began to wonder what was going on at the mansion
Meanwhile back in munchkin land.
Glinda and Em had one thing in common that night. Neither of them slept a wink. They both found themselves sitting out in the backyard of the mansion, underneath a large umbrella that Glinda summoned up.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing, punishing Dorothy like this?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Don't let Roquat here you asking that, of course we are, she said she'd accept any punishment like an adult." Em said.
"But what we are about to do, I mean sure we can easily reverse it but, don't you think it will bring back bad memories for her?" Glinda asked curiously.
"I think its best not to think about it Glinda, they'll be back in a few hours I assume" Em suggested.
"I guess you're right Emily, come on, let's go back inside, it will be sunrise soon." Glinda said getting up.
Em smiled and got up as well before they both ran inside. As they got in they were both surprised to find Roquat waiting for them
"They're on their way." Roquat replied.
"How do you know that?" Em asked curiously.
"Rock fairies." Glinda and Roquat said in unison.
"What are rock fairies?" Em asked curiously.
"We are some of the Kings servants." Came a hissing voice from behind them.
Em immediately jumped and turned around to see a large rock with two small cracks for eyes and a large crack for his mouth. Em at first was shocked by this sight but sighed as she realized that this was just another one of the strange creatures in this strange world.
"You see, I sent my rock fairies to the forest and have kept an eye on the cottage, they have just departed from Angela's cottage." Roquat said.
"Yes, and I must return to watch them." the rock said and the face shut up and vanished completely.
Roquat smiled and picked up the goblet he had summoned up the night before, he then downed the entire contents and sighed. He then waved his hand over the goblet a few times and it filled up with a gold glowing substance.
"Two options for the spell, either have me cast it directly, or she can drink it." Roquat replied.
"But spells taste terrible when ingested, not to mention it make one feel like their throat is burning and that they want to vomit." Glinda said.
"Yes, but the effects are faster than casting it directly, I will however supervise to make sure the transformation goes as planned if you chose this method." Roquat replied.
"Roquat I personally prefer the conventional method." Glinda said.
"Suit yourself." Roquat replied as the goblet vanished.
Em sighed and looked at Glinda, she then began to wonder how the others were doing.
Later in the woods.
The foursome had been walking for nearly fifteen minutes and they were going strong.
"So, Angela, if it's not too much to ask, could you stay at the mayor's mansion with us, we could use as much help as we can get." Dorothy said.
"I'd be more than happy too, to be honest, I've wanted to talk to my sister for a long time, it wasn't her fault for the accident that led to her curse of age and ugliness personally after you told me about her coming out of retirement to help the munchkins I've been thinking that I would do the same thing if it had been me." Angela said.
Dorothy smiled, she was satisfied with the response she had gotten. She then looked at the scepter which was now glowing brightly as they began to get closer and closer to the city, it was their only source of light in the pouring rain that had started again. They walked in silence for another ten minutes before Dorothy tripped over a rock that she hadn't seen in the path.
"Dorothy are you okay?" Alex, Ellie and Angela asked in unison.
"Yea, I'm fine, at least it wasn't a tree branch." Dorothy said getting up and looking at the rock.
Dorothy blinked a few times and shook her head to clear it. For a moment she thought she had seen a face in the rock. She then figured she was just getting paranoid of the fact that the jester could have spies watching her. However her thoughts were broken as a crack of thunder shook the area causing Ellie to scream.
"Dorothy, I think it would be best if you'd use the slippers to get us out of here." Alex suggested as a bolt of lightning struck nearby.
Dorothy nodded and walked over to Ellie. She then took Ellie's hand and looked at Angela.
"Take Alex, Ellie, Angela, and I to the munchkin city." Dorothy said clicking her heels together.
Immediately the four of them felt a large gust of wind whipping around them. Dorothy felt herself lurch forward. She watched as the colors whipped around them and eventually she felt herself fall forward. She slammed the scepter into the ground and caught herself. She looked up to see the mayor's mansion. She looked to her left and right to see Alex, Angela and Ellie scrambling to their feet.
"Thank you." Ellie said taking out her wand and waving it at the door to the mansion causing it to open.
Immediately the four of them ran inside. Dorothy sighed and removed the cloak which she hung up on a peg. Immediately they were met with Angela, Locasta, Glinda, Roquat, Em and henry.
"Okay, so we made it ahead of schedule." Angela said removing her own cloak and approaching her sister.
"Angela." Cassandra said nodding.
"Cassandra, I'm sorry we haven't gotten along over the years." Angela said.
"Angela, I'm sorry for abandoning you and mother." Cassandra replied.
"It's alright, mom isn't as crazy anymore, and she's softened up and went to live back in the Quadling country." Angela said.
Cassandra smiled and placed a hand on her sister's arm. It was obvious they forgave each other. Dorothy sighed and turned to her aunt Em and uncle henry. She was surprised to see Roquat standing between them. However she was snapped out of thought when pockets and Toto ran up to her
"Dorothy, if you wouldn't mind putting down the scepter and removing the slippers." Roquat said.
Dorothy nodded and slid the slippers off and set the scepter down to the side.
"Alex, Em and I talked about it, and during Dorothy's punishment…" henry said trailing off.
"Yes Mr. Gale?" Alex asked curiously.
"You'll be in charge of her." Em said turning to him and her niece.
"Why?" Alex asked curiously
"Because she won't be herself." Roquat said
"Wait, why won't I be myself?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Because, once more, you'll be a kitten." Roquat said holding his hand out as the spell again.
Immediately Dorothy began to glow. Immediately Dorothy doubled over as she felt the transformation take place. The familiar feeling of feeling nothing and something at the same time. She looked at herself to realize she was almost completely transformed into a cat again. She let out a purring sigh, this was what she deserved. At any rate she could related to Eve and the other kittens. Before she even knew it she found herself being scooped up into Alex's arms.
"Dorothy?" Alex asked curiously
"Alex?" Dorothy replied in the same tone.
"Good, you can still speak." Alex said.
"Pockets, Toto, go get the others, I know they're here, they came with the triplets." Dorothy said.
Pockets and Toto both barked and meowed respectively before running off. Dorothy then let out a purr and looked up at Alex.
"How do I look?" Dorothy asked.
"Cute as a kitten." Alex said.
"I am a kitten." Dorothy said placing a paw on his face.
Alex smiled and set Dorothy down on the floor as pockets returned with Alexa, oddball, patch, eve and Toto. Dorothy walked over to Eve and purred.
"You look nice as a kitten my dear." Eve said.
"Thank you eve." Dorothy replied sighing
"Now Glinda, remember, when you think she's been punished enough just give her that potion I gave you." Roquat said before vanishing.
"I heard voices, is Dorothy back?" Came aislynn's voice.
"Yes ace, but she's a kitten again." Em called.
"So you chose that as a punishment? Did you thank Roquat?" Aislynn asked curiously.
"Yes, ace, is scarecrow up there with you?" Em asked curiously.
"Why wouldn't he be, we swap ideas up here." Aislynn called.
"Can you ask him if he's thought of any way for us to quietly enter the emerald city and rescue some of the others?" Em asked curiously
"We've been trying Mrs. Gale, and no, we haven't thought of anything yet." Aislynn called.
"Thanks ace." Em said sighing and sitting down on the staircase.
"Who gave you guys permission to come up with a plan to dangerously infiltrate the city?" Dorothy asked walking over to her aunt
"Dorothy, no one did, we just sort of came up with the idea last night." Em said scratching her niece behind the ear.
Dorothy purred and but immediately drew back. She looked up at her aunt.
"Auntie Em, no one is going to the city without consulting me first, its way too dangerous and I don't want to lose any of you." Dorothy said as she walked back over to Alex.
"Dorothy, oh I can't argue with you as a kitten, you're too cute to argue with, Alex, take her away." Em said.
"Yes mam." Alex said scooping Dorothy up into his arms and walking into the living room.
As he walked into the living room all the munchkins who were watching moved out of the way and oohed and awed at Dorothy as a kitten.
"I think she looks cute." The munchkin mayor said
"Thanks Mr. Mayor Sir, oh, hello Mr. And Mrs. Teak." Dorothy said as Alex approached them
"Good morning Dorothy." Mrs. Teak said.
"Alex?" Came Annabella's rather tired sounding voice.
"Annabella? Did you sleep at all last night?" Alex asked as he set Dorothy down in front of the fireplace.
Dorothy purred and stretched out before sitting and listening for Annabella's answer.
"Yes, it's just early." Annabella replied
"Alex, if you don't mind, I'm going to nap." Dorothy said.
"Go right ahead dear, just stay where I can see you." Alex said.
If Dorothy could have, she would have smiled. She stretched out and then curled up by the fire.
Well Dorothy, what have you gotten yourself into? Anyways, sorry for delays between chapters that have been happening. Real life has been happening and exams get in the way. So sorry if the next chapter isn't for another week or so.