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Dorothy had hardly slept that night, even after meditating. She knew what had to be done, she knew what she was going to have to do, and it frightened her. The logic that kept her from going completely insane from the thought of it was that anyone would feel the same way in her position. As the land began to brighten and the weather began to get worse Dorothy knew that the time had come. Today was the invasion of the city, where it must all end. Today was going to be the darkest day in Oz's history and its cause was her. As she got up from the bed and grabbed the scepter she looked around and realized that the slippers were nowhere in sight. She sighed and sat back down. Alex had fallen asleep in the chair in front of the bed once more. She then turned to the tent door to see Glinda walking in umbrella in one hand, the slippers in the other.
"Oh good, you're awake, I removed the spell that I put on the slippers when we arrived at Rose's." Glinda said bringing them over to her.
"Glinda, next time please leave a note or wake me up or something before you do something like that, I'm worried enough as it is." Dorothy said taking the slippers and sliding them on.
"I know, you hardly slept at all, I had to be as quiet as possible as to not disturb you." Glinda said sitting down next to Dorothy.
Dorothy looked at Glinda and sighed. She then leaned her head on Glinda's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I don't want to do this." Dorothy said.
"I know Dorothy, but this has to end." Glinda said as a loud crack of thunder shook the entire area.
Dorothy sighed and sat up again, tightening her grip on the scepter she got up from the bed and walked towards the door.
"What are the odds of there being a flying monkey ambush right outside this door?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Given the events, rather high." Alex said standing up and stretching.
"Dorothy, you're not thinking about getting yourself captured again are you?" Glinda asked curiously.
"I don't have to think about it, you know what the outcome has to be either way." Dorothy said turning to look at them.
"Dorothy, if you're captured again we have strict plans in place to start the invasion ASAP." Glinda replied.
"Well then get everyone awake, because if I'm not instantly captured upon leaving this tent I'm going on my own." Dorothy said as she walked out of the tent.
As the rain immediately began to soak her she listened around for any signs of the flying monkeys. However what she heard instead made her heart skip a beat. It wasn't the monkeys, it was the sound of growling, the sound of a large dog. She looked around but the rain now made it impossible to see more than about five feet. Having not planned for this she immediately began running in the direction of the city. Immediately she was met with the sound of loud barking. Soon followed by the sound of wings.
"oh Dorothy, you know it's no use to run, either my monkeys or the hound will catch you, perhaps if you're fast enough the monkeys will catch you first or maybe you'll even make it here." Came the jester's booming voice as it echoed over the rain and thunder.
Dorothy sighed and kept running as fast as she could she hoped that fangs wouldn't catch up. She continued to run until she began to feel lightheaded. As her vision began to fog she pointed the scepter behind her causing it to shoot out a ball of light. Immediately the sound of whimpering was heard and she knew that she had either hit the ginormous hound or had really frightened it. She then began to slow down only to be met with the sound of screeching and immediately the feeling of being picked up by one of the flying monkeys. Before she knew it however she found herself being once more dropped on the floor of the chambers, this time however a towel was thrown over her.
"Dry off, I can't have you dripping everywhere right now, you've got about ten minutes before your friends and the armies behind them start charging in, Glinda raised the alarm as soon as you started running, they're already on their way." The jester.
Dorothy coughed a few times as she continued to catch her breath. She then tightened her grasp on the scepter. She then shot a spell at the jester which he calmly dodged. Dorothy sighed and looked up at him
"You know what this is don't you?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes, it's your darkest hour and mine, today one of us must fall, and this must all end." The jester said turning to the crystal balls.
"Your storm, the one you created, it's not just wind, rain, thunder, and lightning is it?" Dorothy asked worriedly.
"As it goes on it gets progressively worse, soon the winds will reach damaging speeds and the rain will bring the visibility outside to extremely low." The jester said.
Dorothy sighed and struggled to her feet. She then walked over to the two colored crystal and placed her hand on it. It felt warm, it felt as though it could feel her touching its surface.
"The magical energy stored up in that is what's feeding the storm, there's enough magical energy in there to cause you all sorts of problems if you were to absorb It." the jester said.
Dorothy sighed and backed away from the crystal she then raised the scepter and shot a spell at it. This time the ball didn't absorb it. It took the hit full force and began to crack. The jester immediately backed away pointed the wand towards the ceiling immediately a small ball of light shot out of it and began emitting a deafening high-pitched screeching sound. Soon the city was surrounded by a large swarm of monkeys that could be seen circling around the castle.
"You show know concern that I've broke your little toy." Dorothy said.
"Of course not, if it breaks it will result in a large explosion and you know what comes next." The jester replied.
"Yes, and I don't want to be here when it happens." Dorothy said.
"You're wondering how I can win with just an army of monkeys aren't you?" the jester asked curiously
"I just thought you were acting foolish again since you know that didn't work out last time." Dorothy replied.
"Oh no, this time I've had these guys conditioned for battle, they are ready to fight, I can't make the puppets fight because wood swells when wet so they would eventually become too heavy to walk." The jester said turning to the crystal ball.
Immediately the crystal came to life and the images of the armies charging towards the city came into the picture. The jester continued to wave his wand over the crystal until the images of Alex, Ellie, Aislynn, Mr. Foreman and the others had appeared.
"Glinda and Locasta have put very temporary spells on the strawman and the tin can so that they wouldn't be damaged by the rain, problem is I can easily take care of that in a matter of seconds." The jester said.
This made Dorothy upset, she knew he was trying to get to her. Cause her to lose her temper. She screamed and shot spell after spell at him causing the room to light up. The jester managed to deflect every single one of the spells.
Meanwhile outside the city.
As they charged upon the city the armies were immediately met with a hoard of flying monkeys. Everyone who could was shooting spells and blocking attacks from monkeys who had been smart enough to pick up branches to use as weapons. Their path to the emerald city was blocked by the most flying monkeys any of them had ever seen.
"These ones don't seem to want to give quite as easily as last time." Tin man said punching one in the face as it flew by.
"Tell me about it." Marshal mallow said holding up his sword to block a branch.
"The only person who seems to not be concerned by any of this is the old man, and boy can he fight." Lion said referring to Mr. Foreman.
Mr. Foreman was indeed fighting his best. The monkeys were receiving more harm from him than he was from them. No matter which direction they came from he seemed to be ready. When a monkey tried to hit him from behind with a club. He simply grabbed the club and swung it and its handler into another monkey. Even soaked to the skin and shivering the old retired doctor seemed to as vigilant and fit even though he looked as though he could be taken down or injured by a single blow. Eventually however a monkey did manage to strike him but he didn't go down. He simply shook it off grabbed the monkey by the wrist and swung it into two monkeys who were charging at him.
"He's really good for an old man." Tin man said.
"Well old does not mean incapable." Cassandra said appearing next to them.
Alex and Ellie had taken to trying to force their way through the horde Ellie was shooting spells and Alex was using his sword. Most of the monkeys were preoccupied by Ellie's spells so it was easier for Alex. Every now and again he would look back to see the shadows of monkeys that he knew were fighting with the others.
"Alex, I'm going to try something incredibly stupid and dangerous when I do I want you to book towards the palace, however you already know the stakes, none of us can interfere once Dorothy and the jester start fighting." Ellie said.
"Ellie I know, but don't do anything that will cause you any harm." Alex said.
Ellie said nothing she simply smiled and began waving her wand in a circle. Immediately the wind began swirling around her causing rain to be stopped and swirl around her like a small cyclone. Alex sighed and looked as the monkeys began to clear away to get away from Ellie's new storm. Alex quickly took off as fast as he could.
Aislynn and Emma were fighting side by side. Emma was prepared in case of emergency to take off her pendant at any time to grow large again. Her thoughts however as she began transforming raindrops into small pebbles were broken by flashing lights coming from the palace. She tried to get aislynn's attention to it but Aislynn was busy shooting monkeys with beans and small rocks using her slingshot.
Meanwhile back in the palace
Dorothy had been shooting as many spells as she could at the jester until she wasn't angry. As soon as she stopped she immediately collapsed to the ground of exhaustion.
"Got all your anger out?" the jester asked chuckling.
Dorothy sighed and nodded. She then used the scepter to help herself up.
"I see what Glinda said about being calm." Dorothy said.
The jester said nothing. He simple shot a spell which hit Dorothy square in the chest. It didn't knock her back it didn't cause her any pain. It seemed to be revitalizing her, giving her energy.
"Next time I won't help you, if you collapse again I'm going to take advantage." The jester said shooting another spell at Dorothy.
Dorothy quickly ducked and ran towards the crystal balls. The jester then shot another spell which hit the two colored crystal causing it to crack more. He then immediately vanished. Dorothy looked at the crystal which had tiny slivers of light now shining from the cracks. She sighed and ran out of the chambers, it wasn't safe in there anymore. As she walked out the doors a spell hit the door just missing her head by mere inches. She looked to see the jester standing a few feet away. She quickly shot a spell at him which he deflected with a flick of the wand. The spell flew passed Dorothy and struck a painting causing it to burst into flames.
"You've improved since we last fought." Dorothy said moving slowly away from the picture frame.
"Yes, and I recall that a managed to turn you to stone last time." The jester said shooting a spell at Dorothy.
Dorothy quickly ran out of the way and the spell struck the wall blowing a chunk out of it. It was then Dorothy remembered the last time they fought, the jester was able to come to power because she spared his life. She showed a little mercy and it nearly cost her. This time would be different.
Well yes, the final battle will be a two parter. Anyways will Alex make it into the palace? How will the battle end? Find out in the next chapter.