Disclaimer, you know.
As sunrise neared the jester spent his watching Dorothy and Glinda. He knew that it was likely that Dorothy would run after she was turned back to normal. He also knew that she wasn't going to just leave Glinda at his disposal this time so she would be torn in her decision. He smiled and pulled out the potion vial again. He took out a glass and poured less than a third of the vial into it.
"Dorothy, time for a drink." The jester said looking out the window as the sky got an orange lining.
"Well, do it then." Dorothy said jumping off the table and walking over to him.
"Why so obedient?" the jester asked picking her up and setting her on the throne.
"It's not like I have a choice, you'll force it down my throat otherwise." Dorothy said stretching out on the throne.
"Fair enough, open wide." He replied.
Dorothy obeyed and opened her mouth. Immediately the jester tipped the potion down Dorothy's throat. Immediately Dorothy's throat began burn. Glinda screamed as a crack of thunder and the rain started again. Dorothy began to get that feeling again, something and nothing at the same time. She found herself growing. Soon she was completely back to normal. Sitting barefoot on the throne and soon the slippers would come to her. She coughed and sputtered a few times as it felt as though she had just vomited. The jester chuckled and conjured up a glass of water for the girl.
"Thanks." Dorothy rasped out as she downed the glass.
"Feel free to run whenever you'd like dear." The jester said pulling Dorothy off the throne.
"Ellie no what are you doing here!?" Dorothy heard Glinda whisper
"Glinda if you don't shut up people will think you're plotting something." Dorothy said not even looking at her.
"Of course she's plotting something, she's tied up, Nikko!" the jester the shouted.
Immediately the captain of the flying monkeys flew into the room and saluted.
"There is an intruder on the grounds, find them and bring them here." The jester said.
Meanwhile back in munchkin land
"Locasta you shouldn't have pulled your wand on her." Alex said as he walked out of the living room
"I was told by Glinda that if she was captured and Ellie didn't cooperate to put her in a dreamless sleep, how was I to know that she would run off, I didn't even know she knew that spell." Locasta replied.
"Well still, Ellie will defend her sister to the ends of the earth." Alex said turning to the scepter which was now glowing brightly.
"She isn't a cat anymore, the scepter and the slippers will go to her." Cassandra said hobbling over.
Alex turned to look at Cassandra for a moment before reaching for the scepter. Immediately it vanished before he could even grab it. Alex now felt a twinge of anger. One of his only chances to get back to her gone, he sighed and picked up his sword before heading back upstairs
Meanwhile on the city grounds.
Ellie was surprised that the spell had actually worked. She was now just outside the dark crystal palace. However it seemed as though the jester knew about her arrival as flying monkeys began flying around. She kept her wand at the ready if she needed to attack any of them, she wasn't going to let herself be captured. She ducked behind a pillar and closed her eyes. She could see Dorothy through Glinda's eyes. Ellie gasped in surprise as the slippers appeared on Dorothy's feet. She was even more shocked as the scepter appeared next to her. She immediately opened her eyes and decided to make a run for it. Immediately the sound of screeching echoed through the city. The next the Ellie knew she was having ropes wrapped around her.
Up in the palace.
As the scepter and the slippers appeared Dorothy immediately found herself in a situation she really didn't want to be in. did she dare try to make a run for it and abandon Glinda? No, she couldn't do that, Glinda had no way of defending herself as the jester had taken and hidden her wand. The jester hadn't taken his eyes off of her since the appearance of the scepter.
"Ah, yes, my monkeys are returning, it seems one of your friends came here and is now captured." The jester said chuckling.
No sooner had he said that when Nikko burst through the doors dragging a struggling Ellie behind him. He tossed Ellie's wand to the jester and set her down next to her sister.
"Ellie why did you come here?" Glinda asked worriedly.
"I-I-I don't know, I didn't know I would end up here, I cast a spell out of anger and wound up outside the city." Ellie replied.
"How little you know about the art of sorcery, it works with your emotions as well as with your mind and body." the jester said sending a spell at Dorothy.
Before Dorothy could react the spell hit her square in the chest causing her to double over in pain.
"Stop. Don't hurt her!" Glinda shouted.
The jester chuckled and walked over to Dorothy. He then had a rather brilliant idea,
"Well you have a choice, either they leave or you do, make a choice, I'll give you till sunset." The jester said.
"What kind of choice is that!?" Ellie screamed out.
"An impossible one, I'm not quite ready for a battle yet, I have a few more preparations to make, so you have until sunset like I said till then, feel free to explore the castle, you can't leave yet so it won't matter." The jester said vanishing.
Dorothy laid there on the floor, speechless. She couldn't abandon them here, but if she stayed she was good as a puppet right there. She sighed and got up. She then turned to Ellie and Glinda.
"Dorothy?" Ellie asked worriedly.
"Dorothy, we understand, but you can't stay here, if you do you're as good as dead." Glinda said.
"Glinda shut up!" Dorothy shouted.
Glinda immediately drew back and looked at her sister. Dorothy however sighed and turned to look at the marionettes. She couldn't let Glinda and Ellie receive this fate again. A tear rolled down her face. She had hours to decide but she didn't know what her decision would be.
Well Dorothy, what a mess you're in. well sweet reviewers, what's to come? What will Alex do in to find a way to Dorothy if she decides to sacrifice herself for Glinda and Ellie's freedom? Find out in the next installment.