Disclaimer, You know.
The courses for transformations did not last long. It was actually a very short lecture with a lot of warnings. It would be two more weeks before dorothy found herself back in her natural form. And much to her annoyance, but not to her surprise, she did find she was once again unsteady on her feet, walking being quite a bit harder again just like the first time she had been turned into a cat. She sat now in the old wheelchair that had been modified for her, and was currently sat in the library, making up some assignments that were unable to be dealt with due to the unfortunate instance of being transformed into a cat again. she massaged her legs after a few minutes as they began to get pins and needles, she could stand and walk but was now incredibly wobbly on her feet. Alex eventually rejoined her in the library with Ozma at his side.
"he told me you had isolated yourself here, didn't want to be around the buzz of the others." Ozma said kissing her cheek and sitting with her.
"honestly its really annoying to end up back at square one when you were basically long past square 8" Dorothy said sighing "It wont take long this time, I feel it in my bones, we've been making improvements daily with walking."
"So long as I take your weight kitten." Alex said sighing, "the professor's course is tomorrow, not sure I'm ready for another one of those draining lectures." He added.
"honestly, easier to just fall asleep during them." Came Nadia's voice from behind, she was wearing her glamour spell this afternoon.
Dorothy nodded and finished the paper she was working on which she put in a folder and stuffed into her satchel next to the Grimmerie. She stretched out and did her best to get to her feet so she could do it better. She wobbled a bit, she wondered why the first spell that had been used on her had such an effect while Roquat's and Madeline's did not.
"I mean, at least you didn't fall over this time." Alex said chuckling, as he grabbed her jacket from the back of the wheelchair, helping her into it "bit chilly out this afternoon." He said as dorothy sat down in the chair.
The four of them left the library, only to see the Professor coming out of the lecture hall.
"Professor, did you forget your coat?" Nadia asked curiously, "it's a bit chilly."
The professor stared at her for a moment then went to grasp his lapels, only to find that his usual coat wasn't around his shoulders. He chuckled,
"Oh yes." He said turning back into the lecture hall, "its good, keep warm." He said as he emerged moments later with it on
He then walked off, chuckling to himself. The four of them shared an uneasy glance.
"So how have things been at the palace the last couple of weeks?" Dorothy asked curiously
"Boring, Tora's been helping me keep amused, The Wizard and scarecrow have finished up the new rainbow mover." She said with a giggle, "tested it out myself, its how I got here this time."
"Give the boys my congratulations then when you get back" Dorothy said with an excited giggle "though I'm sure Ace will be bummed that she missed out"
"Missed out on what? Oh hello Ozma I didn't know you'd be visiting today." Aislynn said coming up behind them
"Your grandfather and scarecrow finished the new improvements to the rainbow mover." Dorothy said smiling.
"Oh goody…oh yea that actually is quite a bummer, but at least they'll have a new chart for me to read." Aislynn said giggling
"well, at least you found a bright side." Alex said chuckling as they walked into the dorm.
Immediately there seemed to be a hush. Elena and Zeb were in the common area, looking at the four of them, they seemed to have been engaged in some kind of chatting.
"Everything alright you two?" Dorothy asked, a little bit teasingly.
"As good as it can be." Elena said way to quickly.
"well, don't stop chatting on our account, I'm only visiting for a short time today." Ozma said with a giggle,
They walked along to the lounge area where Alyssa and Ellie seemed to be engaged in a game of catch with Ellie's little red ball. Toto and pockets sat on the sofa watching it whip through the air.
"Surprised Jude isn't with you." Nadia said watching as the ball whizzed back and forth.
"Elphaba wanted to borrow him for something, forbade me from following, I respect her more than I respect Glinda at this moment, so Alyssa offered a game of catch." Ellie said whipping the ball at her captain.
Alyssa deftly caught it and chuckled, "I do worry though." She said whipping it back at her
"because usually they don't try to separate us like this?" Ellie asked tossing it back.
"that's exactly what I'm worried about." Alyssa said nodding, "especially considering the circumstances, though Elphaba seems to be the only person who manages to exercise proper authority over Glinda without having to prod her first."
"you know…we resemble that remark." Alex said chuckling, "but if it makes you feel any better one of us can go check."
Dorothy grinned at this, this she could be useful for at the moment. "Take Ozma and I to Elphaba's office." She said clicking her heels together.
In a woosh she and Ozma were in the office, Jude staring at both of them while Elphaba seemed to be engaged at getting some bottles from a high shelf.
"Dorothy, you know its polite to knock before intruding on someone's office space." She said straining to get something off the shelf.
"yes, well, Ozma and I just wanted to check to see what you were up to with Jude." Dorothy stated with a giggle
"Oh, Ozma, didn't realize you were here." Elphaba said coming down the ladder, "oh its nothing bad." She said, "Just wanted to get to know Glinda's future brother in law."
"pretty much all there is too it." Jude said sighing "honestly, and I hope she can forgive me for saying this, but she wants to run, but at the same time is too scared to, she doesn't want to abandon any of you."
"the soldiers vow." Dorothy said nodding "honestly Ellie and I hold each other to multiple promises, one being that we wont abandon each other."
"and have had that vow for a long time." Ellie said sourly from a mirror, "Look, its one thing when my sister and her girlfriend talk about this kind of thing, its quite another when my best friend does it." Ellie said before appearing in the room.
"Ellie, you can talk to me, whenever you want." Dorothy said, genuine concern entering her voice, "I know you're afraid to, but I want to work this out together, we cant just run from it."
"Dorothy, its not like that, I-I'm scared, because I don't know what's happening to me, I'm glad to know I have you guys to go to, but I don't even know where to begin." She said, watching as dorothy struggled to her feet.
She staggered forward a bit and wrapped her arms around her best friend tightly. hugging her close, Ellie returned the embrace, but it wasn't her usual crushing embrace. This was the embrace of someone trying to let go, but unsure where to start. She wasn't pushing her away, but she was giving a wide berth of her own. Ellie took a deep breath in, unsure what to say, or if there was anything to be said. She didn't know anymore.
"I forgive you Jude, someone had to tell them, and I'm glad it was you." Ellie said sighing and breaking from the hug.
"Ellie, I know you're scared, but we've gotten through harder scrapes than this, I remember when you relearned Glinda was actually your siste…" Was as far as she got before Ellie cupped a hand over her mouth.
"Dorothy, And with respect Ozma, I don't need reminding, please…" she said taking a sharp deep breath in
"Ellie, I cant even pretend to imagine what you happen to be going through." Ozma said soothingly, "and we wont force you to talk about this, but you really should, perhaps around the holidays when you all come back to the palace for Christmas" she offered.
"maybe." Ellie said squeezing her eyes shut.
"its up to you, but I would prefer you not to let this fester." Ozma said smiling at her, "you two run along, we'll catch up." She said
Ellie nodded and took Jude's hand, in an instant they both vanished. Alex soon appeared with the scepter, and sighed.
"That, was an interesting watch." Alex said using windy to call over a chair, "Dorothy, I really don't think it's a good idea to push her, otherwise we'll end up smothering her and pushing her away like Glinda did, when she's feeling up to it, I know she'll talk to you"
Dorothy sighed and nodded, she knew this was true. She wrapped her arms around alex, as now she was worried. Ozma joined them in the embrace worriedly as Elphaba went to make some tea. Things were going to come to a head, and it would come to a head soon enough. This was something Elphaba herself was quite sure of.