Disclaimer you know.
At the palace.
The jester had been keeping himself rather amused with the spectacle available to him the in the crystal ball. He was glad to see them nearly turning on each other. He chuckled and turned to the puppet Dorothy.
"You know, it's funny now that I think about It." the jester said.
Dorothy didn't respond, she knew she couldn't, and he believed she couldn't. He took the scepter and waved it at Dorothy. Immediately her head tilted down and looked at the crystal. Immediately however she was compelled to do something else.
"It's funny." Dorothy said tonelessly.
"I knew you'd like It." the jester said.
"Like it." Dorothy found herself saying.
"You know I like that spell, best way to hear voices aside from my own." The jester said chuckled.
Dorothy would have smiled if she could she had an idea.
"Voices." Dorothy said.
The jester smiled and turned back to the crystal.
Back in munchkin land.
Before sunrise Alex found himself being shaken awake by Ellie. He groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position.
"Ellie?" Alex asked in an irritated tone
"Alex don't say a word, just grab your things and meet me downstairs." Ellie said in a hushed tone before running out of the room.
Alex was now curious but he wasn't going to argue with Ellie. He got up and grabbed his sword. Knocking over Dorothy's satchel in the process. As it hit the ground the bell jar with the dragon in it rolled out. The dragon stirred and looked at Alex with what he was sure was an irritated look. Alex picked up the jar and placed it back in the satchel. He was hanging it up again on the bedpost when he thought about Dorothy. He knew that Dorothy found it useful, so he took it and slung it over his shoulder. He then strapped his sword to his belt and grabbed his jacket. He then left the room and went downstairs where he was surprised to find everyone waiting for him.
"What's going on?" Alex asked in a hushed tone.
"With Dorothy gone, the triplets are no longer safe, not in munchkin land." Em said picking up a carrier seat with Alicia in in it.
"Realistically wouldn't it make sense to stay here?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes, but the jester can just come in and take them if he wanted to." Jessica said picking up Robert and placing him in a carrier.
"Okay, so how is leaving going to help?" Alex asked as pockets and Toto walked over to him.
"You know how our protection over campsites work right?" Terrance asked holding up his sword before strapping it to his belt.
"Sort of, but will those tents be able to hold all of us?" Alex asked curiously.
"They are magic, but yes, both combined will be able to comfortably hold all of us." Jenny said as she helped Ellie with amber.
"Can we establish that magic doesn't solve everything?" Alex said sitting down on the stairs and picking up Toto.
"Alex, oh never mind, Finley can you take this?" Locasta asked holding up one of the tent bags.
Finley nodded and took the tent bag in his arms. Immediately he dropped a few inches trying to hold up the bag.
"Aislynn, grab the cats, they'll have to stay in the picnic basket." Glinda said.
Aislynn nodded and walked over to the picnic basket on a nearby table and opened it. Immediately pockets jumped up onto Alex's lap next to Toto and tried to hide behind him.
"Pockets can ride in the satchel if he'd like." Alex said.
"Alex, why are you bringing that?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Because, I, I thought it would be useful, better than just carrying around the jar with the dragon in it." Alex said.
"Fair enough, where's Cassandra and Angela, aren't they supposed to be coming?" Ellie asked curiously.
"They said they'd meet us at the first place we stopped." Locasta said.
"Wait, where are my parents, and my sister?" Alex asked noticing they weren't around.
"Right here brother." Annabella said pushing passed everyone with their parents.
"Alex, put pockets in the satchel, we have to go." Glinda said looking at the window.
Alex nodded and obeyed. He opened the satchel and pockets jumped into it trying to stick her head out over the side. Alex chuckled and picked Toto up, setting him down next to him. He then got up and started for the door. Only to be stopped by Ellie.
"Alex, ground rule, and this is the only one I ask you to follow, don't let yourself be captured, Glinda found out that some of the munchkins went to the other corners of Oz to try and make an army, if we get captured beforehand we stand no chance at taking down the jester, or avenging Dorothy." Ellie said.
"No promises." Alex said before leaving the house.
"Who put you in charge?" Ellie asked running after him.
"No one, but I think I know where we should go." Alex said.
"Oh yea? Where?" Ellie asked as everyone joined them.
"Alex, you're not thinking about going to emerald city?" Emma asked running up to join them.
"No, that's not what I was thinking about, do I look like I want to get killed?" Alex asked as Mr. Foreman walked up and led Emma away
"Keep acting like that and I'll have to say yes." Ellie said looking at the sky.
Alex looked up at the sky and saw monkeys flying overhead. He noticed that none of them were attacking, but they seemed to be patrolling, waiting for the right moment.
"Locasta, how long would it take us to get to the southern domain?" Alex asked curiously.
"Several days." Locasta said.
"Okay, the north?" Alex asked curiously.
"Same time." Glinda said.
"Okay, can we?" Alex asked before being cut off.
"No!" Locasta, Glinda, and Ellie said in unison.
"Okay, scarecrow, you choose." Alex said turning to him.
Scarecrow said nothing. He simply looked at Aislynn, smiled and starting walking west bound.
Well will our bunch actually head towards Winkie country? Will Dorothy blow her cover anytime soon? Will the jester do anything with the puppets besides force them to talk? Find out in the next chapter.