Disclaimer, the usual.
When Finley managed to catch up with the gang it was already getting dark. He had gotten lost as he had no idea where exactly in the west they would be and the woods were indeed huge, even for a monkey flying over it. When he landed he was met with surprised from the others.
"Finley you've only been gone for a day, we figured you'd been captured." Ellie said/
"I-I was, d-Dorothy is fine by the way, actually s-she sent me with a message, a-also military encampment a few miles further." Finley said pulling out the folded slip of paper and handing it to Ellie.
"Oh, good that means we must almost be there." scarecrow said
"Alex." Ellie said handing the paper to Alex.
Alex took the paper and unfolded it. He then quickly scanned it. it was a note from Dorothy saying that she was fine, and that he shouldn't worry too much, she see him when they got there and to be careful. He sighed and placed it in his satchel before they continued on. It wasn't long before they reached the encampment. They were greeted with much rejoicing. This encampment was made up of many citizens of Oz from each different region, all who could find a place to set up camp.
"Look at this, everyone working together, an alliance." Locasta said.
"I know, everyone is going to fight to bring him down." Glinda said as they began to set up the tents.
"Glinda, the scepter!" Alex shouted as it tried to pull from his grasp.
"Alex, just let it take you to her, we are in the emerald city's domain, and Jon go with him." Glinda said.
Meanwhile at the city.
Dorothy had taken to sketching throughout most of the day and well into the afternoon and evening. Only stopping for meals. Occasionally her mind would turn to the card rose had written for the jester. She picked up the book on improving memory and skimmed it before looking behind her to find the jester standing behind her.
"Your friend is on his way." The jester said.
"I told you before, his name is Alex." Dorothy said.
"Whatever, something's on your mind." The jester said flicking the wand causing Dorothy's wrists once more to be tied together.
"Top drawer." Dorothy said.
The jester sighed and walked over to her, opening the drawer the first thing he picked up was the card. He read it and then quickly it vanished. He quickly stormed out of the room and the door shut and locked behind him.
"Is it bad that I now worry for the safety of my friends more than ever because I just gave him that?" Dorothy asked herself as she tried to get out of the ropes.
Meanwhile just outside the city Alex and Mr. Foreman were walking around the edge of the city. In the dark the scepter was the only source of light that they had and by now they were sure they had been noticed. The scepter had finally stopped trying to escape from Alex's grasp and was now glowing bright to light their way around. When they got to the area of the docks Alex finally noticed something which he made apparent.
"It seems way too quiet." Alex said
"I know, but be prepared for an ambush at any time." Mr. Foreman said as they made their way to the entrance.
"Remind me why we chose this entrance? I mean we were most likely to use this one I'm sure he knows that." Alex said.
"Which is exactly why we are using it." Mr. Foreman said as they reached the door.
Immediately the sound of screeching was heard. The scepter immediately began glowing brightly and lit up the area to reveal several monkeys swarming them. Before Alex could even draw out his sword Mr. Foreman had already starting fighting. As the monkeys swooped down he grabbed the wrist of one of them and swung it into another one of the oncoming swarm. Two monkeys tried to rush him and he simply crouched down causing them to clip his shoulders and lose their bearings. One of the monkeys let out a loud screech and the monkeys retreated.
"And this is why I had you come with me, you're really fast for an old man." Alex said.
"I may be old but not incapable." Mr. Foreman said as the door behind him opened.
"It seems we're being invited." Alex said as the scepter dimmed.
Mr. Foreman said nothing he simply walked into the door followed by Alex. It didn't take long for them to reach the chamber where they found the jester lounging on the throne.
"Welcome." The jester said doing a front flip off the throne.
"Where is she?" Alex asked now getting a little irritated.
"Don't worry she's fine, she's in her room." The jester said.
Alex looked at Mr. Foreman who nodded. Alex then turned and ran in the direction that he remembered Dorothy's room was in. he really wasn't able to miss it as it was the only that was still green in the entire castle. He tried the knob to find it locked.
"Dorothy, are you in there?" Alex asked
"Alex!? Oh thank goodness he didn't do anything to you." Came Dorothy's voice.
Alex sighed in relief and waved the scepter over the door. Immediately he heard the lock click and the door opened. When he walked in he found Dorothy sitting at the desk with her hands in front of her, tied at the wrists. He immediately ran over to her and attempted to undo the knots in the rope. Eventually however he just decided to use his sword.
"thanks." Dorothy said getting up and hugging him.
Alex said nothing, he simply returned the embrace. A few seconds later they were joined by Mr. Foreman.
"The jester is waiting for you two in the chambers. Dorothy, might I suggest you remember to grab the slippers before we go?" Mr. Foreman said.
Dorothy released Alex and smiled before walking over to her bedside and sliding on the slippers. She then held out her hand and Alex tossed her the scepter. The three of them quickly rushed back to the chambers. When they got there the jester was waiting for them twirling the wand between his fingers.
"Well, before I change my mind, take her, and go." The jester said.
Alex and Dorothy shared a glance and then looked at Mr. Foreman. He nodded as they quickly left the chambers. As they ran out of the city Dorothy smiled and pulled Mr. Foreman and Alex into a hug before they led her to the encampment. When they arrived about an hour later Dorothy was met with a lot of cheering and by the embrace of several of her friends before Glinda led her away to their tent.
"You would not believe how many people have asked us where you were." Glinda said.
"No I think I can imagine." Dorothy said as Alex walked into the tent.
"Glinda, Cassandra wants to have a word." Alex said.
"Why couldn't she come in here and just pull me aside?" Glinda asked curiously.
"I asked her that, and she simply smiled." Alex said.
Glinda let out a long sigh before walking out of the tent. Alex then walked over to the bed that he normally used, took off the satchel, and threw it down on the bed. He then sat down and offered Dorothy a seat.
"What do you think Cassandra wanted to talk to Glinda about?" Dorothy asked as she sat down.
"Heck if I know." Alex said as the cats and Toto ran into the room and jumped onto the bed.
"Dorothy, it's great to have you back." Toto said climbing onto Dorothy's lap.
"Thanks boy, have you guys been good while I was away?" Dorothy asked.
"Aside from waking me up a few days ago they've been fine." Alex said.
"Good, hello eve." Dorothy said as Eve rubbed her head against Dorothy's arm and purred.
"What a touching display." Came the booming voice of father time.
Immediately Dorothy and Alex found that they were no longer sitting in the tent but in time's domain. Father time, now dressed in a suit colorful enough to catch Mr. Upland's attention.
"Why are we here?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Because, you've been told there is a storm coming, and I have to warn you that anything that happens from this point on is the inevitable, there is no changing it, you have to fight or this cannot end, which is what everyone has been telling you." Father time said approaching them.
"Why did you freeze time in our world?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"What?" Alex asked now really curious
"I think the people of your world would notice that a bunch of people have vanished. When you return no time will have passed between when the rain started and your arrival." Father time said.
"Okay, next question, why are you telling me I have to fight, when, as you say, it's the same thing everyone has told me?" Dorothy asked curiously
"Because until this is over the passage of time will move in one straight line until it splits in the two possible outcomes, your defeat, or his." Father time said as his voice echoed
Immediately Dorothy, Alex, the cats, and Toto, found themselves back in the tent. Dorothy sighed, got up, grabbed the scepter, and walked out of the tent and was almost immediately met with a mob of people. She knew some people were trying to ask questions but the mob wouldn't keep quiet long enough for her to say anything. When Alex came out of the tent he immediately pulled her back in.
"You seem to have quite a fan club." Alex said
"I see that." Dorothy said walking over to the bed and sitting on it again.
"Hey let me through, this is our tent!" came Ellie's voice as she eventually got into the tent.
"Has no one thought to let scarecrow have a go? I mean he is the current king?" Dorothy asked
"People are so much more concerned on trying to meet you to even listen." Ellie said walking over to Dorothy and hugging her.
"Well then, I'm going back out." Dorothy said getting up again.
As she left the tent and was met with the mob this time she held up a hand causing everyone to fall silent.
"now, if you would all take a moment to calm down, I know you all have a lot of question, to answer what I'm sure is going to be the most common one, no I do not have a plan." Dorothy said causing many people to groan, "I've been busy, I just got released from captivity, again, and I was sick for a few days, but also, he has something to his advantage, any magic cast at him, he can divert." She added
"We've been told by Cassandra." One of the munchkins said.
"Good, well I have to come up with a plan around it, and I really haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet because I don't even think Glinda has dealt with this before." Dorothy said.
"Right next question, why hasn't he tried to kill you?" one of the other ozians asked
"He's suffering from morality issues." Dorothy said.
"Do you know why?" the Ozian asked.
Dorothy thought about mentioning rose, but then decided against it. Bringing her into this would probably make things worse.
"No, not that I can think of unless he just sort of feels sorry." Dorothy said.
"Alright enough badgering Dorothy with questions." Came the voice of the china princess.
Immediately the crowd parted and let the china princess through. She walked over to Dorothy and led her back into the tent.
"Miss Dorothy gale needs some rest, she's had a long day and she looks rather tired." The princess said glancing back at them.
As they got back in the tent they found Alex nodding off in a chair with the pocket compendium in his hands. Dorothy smiled and walked over to him snapping her fingers a few times causing him to jolt awake.
"I'm awake!" he quickly shouted causing Dorothy to giggle
"Alex, don't even try to fake it, you're the one who's had a long day." Dorothy said taking the book from him.
"Yea, didn't really sleep last night." Alex said.
"Really Alex, get some rest, y-you need it." Dorothy said with a yawn.
"It's not just Alex who needs rest." Came Glinda's voice as she walked in.
"What did Cassandra want?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"She wanted to know if we could manage to get the crowd to disperse." Glinda said.
"Glinda, you know you can't lie to me." Dorothy replied.
"Fine, she gave me orders to make sure you got some rest, we have a war council in the morning." Glinda said.
"Okay fair enough." Dorothy said walking over to the bed.
"Glinda, you know what to do." The china princess said.
Glinda smiled and waved her wand in Dorothy's direction. Immediately her eyes closed and she fell asleep. Glinda then turned to Alex and repeated the action and he fell asleep in the chair.
"Good, now they're asleep." Glinda said.
"Right, it should get a lot quieter outside now." The princess said.
Well that was eventful. Will the war council lead to more problems for Dorothy? What is the jester's next plan of action going to be? And what do you think rose's card said? Find out in the coming chapters.