Disclaimer, you know
Dorothy did indeed go to the library. She decided that if she was going to be amused she had to do it at random. She smiled, closed her eyes, and walked with her arms out in front of her. She grabbed the first book her hand touched. The book she grabbed was and old leather bound book with the title 'how to improve your memory' she sighed and threw the book on a nearby table. She then grabbed a few more random ones before picking up the books and starting for her room. When she returned to her room she set the books down on the table next to the door and walked over to her desk and instead of reading spent the remainder of the day sketching until it was late into the evening until eventually she managed to fall asleep at the desk.
Meanwhile in the west.
The group had continued on their way, taking a ten minute lunch break and then continuing on until they were almost unable to see where they were going. They had set up the tents and had a quick dinner before almost everyone turned in for the night to get rest before their early departure. The exceptions were Alex, tin man, scarecrow, china princess, and marshal mallow. They were each sat a good distance away from the campfire with the exception of Alex who actually needed to keep warm. He had tried to go to sleep but thinking about Dorothy kept him awake. Eventually he got up and sat by the campfire, taking a look at his pocket watch about every hour. He would also constantly glance at the scepter. Eventually however he just sat quietly and continued to check his watch. At around three in the morning he found himself surprisingly more awake rather than tired.
"He doesn't look the least bit tired." The china princess said walking around him
"I think he's just been thinking about rescuing Dorothy, I mean it seems to be what's keeping him going." Scarecrow said from a distance.
"Good to know those brains haven't failed you scarecrow." Alex said taking out his pocket watch and looking at the time.
"Would Dorothy want you staying up all night?" scarecrow asked.
"Oh, probably not, but I'm not her." Alex said irritated.
Everyone shared a glance and sighed. No one wanted to try and argue with him. They just stood there silently until the sky just started lighting up. Shortly after, as if by instinct everyone emerged from the tents followed by Toto and the cats. It wasn't much to assume that they had probably done the job of waking everyone up.
"Did he really stay up all night?" Ellie asked in a whisper.
"Yes." Scarecrow replied
Ellie let out a sigh and joined everyone else by the campfire as they made a quick breakfast. No one said a word as they ate and as soon as they had finished they quickly packed up the tents and started on their way again.
Back at the city.
Dorothy found herself waking up with her neck feeling stiff. It didn't take long for her to realize she had fallen asleep at the desk. Next to her was a plate of eggs and toast with an apple. As well as a small slip of paper. She sat up, stretched, and grabbed the slip of paper and read it to herself.
"Didn't want to wake you, you know where I'll be, enjoy the breakfast, from the jester." Dorothy said as she started eating.
When she finished she took the plate and utensils and started for the kitchen. It wasn't long before she actually ran into the jester who seemed to be on his way to her room.
"Your friends have already started off again, if they keep the pace up they'll take the three day journey and turn it into a two day journey arriving at the edge of the domain tonight." The jester said
"You would know how long it would take to reach here from rose's castle." Dorothy said causing the jester to cringe.
"Right, anyways." The jester said taking the wand from his sleeve and flicking it causing the plate and utensils to vanish
"And I'm assuming they are either ahead or behind the armies?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Behind, by about half a day, the people of Oz have just sort of banded together and have been using the same routine as your friends, short breaks and continuous walking, by tomorrow morning there should be an encampment around the domain, I assume they'll take a day or two to come up with a proper plan." the jester said.
"But not before Alex and Jon try to rescue me." Dorothy said.
"You don't want to fight do you?" the jester asked.
"No I don't." Dorothy said as the sounds of crashing came from elsewhere in the hallway.
"That must be Basil and fangs with the freak." The jester said.
"Who's fangs?" Dorothy asked curiously
"My hound." The jester said as a large hound bounding in dragging Finley by the arm.
"Finley are you alright?" Dorothy asked worriedly.
"H-h-h-he was g-given orders not to harm me, I just c-can't get out." Finley said.
"Good job boy, now drop him." The jester said.
The dog nodded and opened his mouth releasing Finley's arm. Finley immediately flew up and landed on Dorothy's shoulder. Dorothy looked at the dog and then hissed loudly causing both the dog and Finley to flinch.
"Right back to your cage boy, I'll bring you some food." The jester said.
Immediately the dog turned and bolted only for Basil to fly over and pull out a small business card which he handed to the jester.
"We found him sleeping in a tree not far from the boundaries, I pushed and fangs grabbed him." The jester read aloud.
"Where did he learn how to make those?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"I have no clue, I don't even know where he finds the time." The jester said as the monkey flew off.
"I saw hundreds of Ozians heading this way last night." Finley said.
"I know." Dorothy replied.
"I really don't need him here, I just wanted to find him to prove a point, hello freak." The jester said looking at Finley.
Finley said nothing he simply held onto Dorothy rather tightly.
"Oh leave him be, he's scared of you, you subjected him to torture" Dorothy said.
"No, I let his fellow monkeys have their fun abusing the only one of their number who could actually talk." The jester said/
"Finley, we're going back to my room, I need to write a note." Dorothy said turning around.
"Good idea, let them know you're alright, he acts as carrier and they pick up the pace." The jester said.
Dorothy sighed and ran back to her room with Finley flying close behind. When she arrived at her room she ran over to the desk and pulled out a blank piece of paper and quickly wrote down a note. When she finished she folded it and handed it to Finley.
"Due west, quickly." Dorothy said.
Finley nodded and flew out of the room faster than she had seen any of the monkeys ever fly the jester then walked in the room smiling.
"Ten, fifteen minutes?" The jester asked.
"I don't know how far they really are, I just have an estimate of when they'll be close." Dorothy said.
Well shorter chapter, probably didn't make much sense, but trust me the next chapter will be much more eventful, more action.