Oscar groaned as he laid on his bed. His whole body was in pain due to his training the day prior. After talking to Ozma last night, he learned he had two months to get ready for school. He definitely wasn't ready yet, and it started to show as he stared at the green ceiling.

He realized he never really stopped to question it before, but he was in a completely different world. This wasn't Kansas where things made sense by his standards. Magic was real here and he needed to adjust his knowledge. That was part of the reason he was excited to learn from Ozma today. If he could get a firm grasp of the way things worked in this world, he could very well make it.

After forcing himself out of bed and into a new set of clothes, just as comfortable as the last, he made his way down the hall towards Ozma's office. Once he arrived, however, he was met with a curious sight.

Braum: I promise I'll behave so let me get up!

Ozma: Not until I feel you learned your lesson.

Braum was on her knees on what seemed like a piece of wood with five pointed rows digging into her legs. On her lap was a stack of books seemingly placed there by Ozma.

Oscar watched this for a moment before he decided that he would remain on his best behavior.

Ozma suddenly turned to him which made him flinch a bit, but she smiled regardless.

Ozma: Good morning, dear. I hope you rested well.

Oscar looked back to Braum which made Ozma sigh.

Ozma: She's in trouble for the way she acted towards you yesterday. She was supposed to be in charge of your training, but she instead abused you.

Braum: It's how I teach!

Oscar: Uh....

The two looked to the boy who was now sweating bullets.

Oscar: Could you let her go, Miss? She was just teachin' me.

Ozma raised a brow but Braum cried out.

Braum: Please listen to him!

Ozma simply sighed and lifted a finger. The books were taken away from Braum's lap and she was untied. Braum immediately shot to her feet, only to fall over almost immediately. She held her knees in pain while Ozma sighed.

Ozma: Very well. No matter.

She turned to Oscar.

Ozma: Your first lesson with me will begin after breakfast.

Oscar nodded, but then looked at Braum.

Oscar: I dunno if I want to go!
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Oscar sat in a rather comfortable chair across from Ozma who was drinking a cup of tea. In front of him on a makeshift table was a pile of books that were about the history of this place and stuff such as spells and hexes. Stuff that Oscar had read about back in his world, but nothing he really believed could be real.

Ozma: Before we begin, I must ask you something.

Oscar looked up to her as she took a sip.

Ozma: When you arrived here, did you notice anything that was immediately different?

Oscar gave it some thought.

Oscar: Uh, the air? It feels....lighter, somehow. I can't explain it.

Ozma smiled.

Ozma: That's because of the natural magic that flows through this world. It stretches across all the lands. Have you read up on them yet?

Oscar looked back to the books. He did do some light reading, but he stopped when he noticed some strange things.

Oscar: About that. Uh, I've heard about a few of these places. Like Neverland and Arabia. Places that exist in fairy tales.

Ozma: So you believe me now.

Ozma nodded. She then gestured to the wall behind her where a map was displayed.

Ozma: This world is vast. In addition to the two lands you just named, there are others. Oz is one of them. The others consist of the Winter Lands, Wonderland, and Ever After. But that isn't all. There are certain doorways that lead to other worlds, such as your own. Though it's difficult to find one, the others are easily accessible. Students who have stories of their own away from the Fairy Tale world attend Ever After High at times.

Other worlds? So it wasn't just these two. Oscar began to wonder what the others were like.

Ozma: But, let me start you off with the basics. Let's start with magic touches.

Oscar: Magic touches?

Ozma: Yes. Every student that will be attending Ever After High will have one. It's a magical gift that anyone can possess even if their story doesn't call for it. Unfortunately, you will be the only one without one.

Oscar frowned. Though, it would make sense seeing how he wasn't magical. He was just a farm boy from the middle of nowhere.

Ozma: But I'll still teach you about the magic if this world. It'll help with the illusion that you have magic as to avoid suspicion. You're supposed to be my heir, after all.

Oscar nodded.

Ozma: And after that, we can get started on getting you some more fitting clothes.

~•~

Oscar looked at himself as he walked. He felt a bit....odd...wearing these clothes.

Braum: Stop playing with your jacket.

Oscar: Sorry. It's just....what is this?

Braum looked back at him a bit confused. She was walking with her staff resting on her shoulders, her arms keeping it in place.

Braum: They don't have leather back where you're from?

Oscar had heard about it, but he's never seen it in person. It felt a bit odd, but so did everything else. Even his hair felt messy and wild compared to before.

Braum suddenly stopped walking which cause Oscar to almost bump into her. He caught himself before he could and noticed that Braum was staring off into the woods. He followed her gaze but noticed nothing. He kept looking before he saw movement.

Oscar: What's that? A deer or somethin'?

Braum: Not quite. Did you bring what I told you to?

Oscar nodded and reached behind his back where he pulled out a sword. It wasn't as long as he thought it would be, but it was what the guard gave him.

Braum: Good. Time for your first hands on lesson.

Before Oscar could ask what she meant, something stepped out of the bushes. He looked to find a short green creature standing there with what looked to be a wooden club in one hand.

Oscar: What is that?

Braum: A goblin. A rather weak creature, but a problem nonetheless. Apparently it's been attacking nearby crops.

She then turned to Oscar.

Braum: Your lesson today is to slay it.

Oscar: Wait, what....

The goblin growled at the boy, snapping his attention back to it. It began to run towards him which gave Oscar very little time to prepare his weapon. When the goblin swung his club, Oscar barely blocked it. The force of the hit caused his weapon to rattle which immediately shot through his hands, causing him to wince.

He stumbled backwards as Braum leaped up into a nearby tree to watch.

Braum: Not bad. You're already doing better than I thought you would.

Oscar shook one of his hands before the goblin ran at him again. Oscar screamed and began to run around to avoid being hit. Soon, the boy and the creature were running around in circles.

Braum: Yeah, this is about what I expected.

Oscar leaped over a log but his foot did get caught by a branch. He fell face first into the ground as the goblin leaped over and landed in front of him. Oscar looked up, but he didn't see the goblin.

Man: Damn brat. Why are you looking at me like that?

The man lifted the belt and brought it down with a snap.

Braum's eyes grew wide when the club made direct contact to the boy's back. She quickly leaped down and began to charge towards the creature. However, this caught it's attention. The creature lifted his club and swung it at the girl, keeping her away. Oscar just kept his head over his head to avoid being hit again.

The man's voice echoed in his mind. Yelling at him. Berating him. The abuse, the hate, it all came bubbling back to the surface. It made him freeze. His heart was racing and his breathing was shallow. The pain from the hit wasn't even felt.

Braum: Get up! It'll kill you if you stay down!

Oscar suddenly snapped back to the present. That's right. He wasn't in Kansas. He wasn't with that monster. This was a different one. One that was actually here.

Oscar quickly scrambled to his feet and grabbed the sword again. Without really thinking, he swung it like he would a baseball bat. The edge of the blade ended up stabbing into the goblin's arm, but the feeling unnerved him. He flet the bone.

The creature cried out which gave Braum the chance to dash forward. She stabbed her staff into the the creature which caused it to stop moving. She pulled the staff free and the creature fell as Oscar let go of the sword. He took a step back and began to shake as he looked at his hands.

He'd never killed anything before. Not even a bug. And now....

Braum: The first one is always the hardest.

Oscar looked up as Braum effortlessly pulled the sword out from the deep wound. She held it out towards Oscar with a sincere look on her face.

Braum: You'll be a pro in no time. Just stick with me.

She smiled, which was the first time Oscar could say he'd ever seen her smile. It was a pretty one.

Oscar looked at the sword and, with a bit of hesitation, took it back. Green slime like blood dripped off the edge. He stared at it before he lowered it.

Braum: Come on. I'll show you some more moves.

Braum turned and began to walk towards the ruins from a few days ago. Oscar just took a breath and headed after her.

~•~

Ozma: You're a fast learner.

Oscar didn't even look up. He was filling out the worksheets that Ozma had provided as she drank her tea. After weeks of learning, Oscar felt like he knew most of what he needed to know. Sure, his magic was nonexistent, but his knowledge had grown. But that wasn't all.

His swordsmanship had vastly improved. No longer was wild swings and careless blocking. It was more calculated and direct. Braum was amazed at his progress over such a short time. There was still room for improvement, but it wasn't hopeless.

Braum: Hurry up and finish so we can practice.

Oscar looked up and awkwardly smiled. Braum was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. Patience wasn't really her thing.

Oscar: In a second. I'm just about done with this.

Braum pouted, but Ozma just smiled. He had been here for only a short amount of time, but it seemed like he was already making himself right at home.

It wasn't much longer until Oscar was ducking under Braum's staff. He quickly kicked up but his foot was caught. With not much options, Oscar tried to swing his sword which was blocked.

Braum: Don't get desperate.

Oscar: I ain't.

Oscar smirked as he leaped up a bit. Braum found her arm being raised due to the height difference which left her open for Oscar to kick her in the chest, making her let go. With this second opening, Oscar moved forward and grabbed her wrist, pinning her against a tree. He smirked.

Oscar: How about now, green bean? What'cha gonna do?

Braum smirked and lifted a knee that connected with Oscar's private parts. The pain so bad that the boy dropped to his knees and fell over. Braum tossed some hair over her ear with a satisfied smirk.

Braum: You should always remember that move. Could save you one day.

Oscar: You......broad......

But in the end, summer soon turned to fall. And though the leaves remained green, the air began to change. It had been two months since Oscar had arrived, and tomorrow was the day he would become a student at Ever After High.

And to celebrate, the three ate dinner together. A single present sat before Oscar.

Ozma: I must say, you have grown quite a bit since you came here.

Oscar smiled shyly.

Oscar: Thank you, ma'am. I couldn't have done it without the two of you.

Braum: And don't you forget it, farm boy.

Oscar and her shared a knowing smile. Their nicknames for each other may come off as rude, but they knew better. As did the lady herself.

Ozma: But, now you begin a new chapter in your story. And it will be there that you must remain alert.

Oscar nodded. He already knew the risks of being caught as a false story character. He would have to keep his true nature a secret from the staff at Ever After High, less he risked the chance of being exiled. That was why, starting tomorrow, he would be going by Oz rather than Oscar.

Oscar: But, what is this?

He pointed to the gift. Ozma smiled and motioned for him to open it, which he did. When he looked inside he found what looked to be a new outfit. He brought out the coat and examined it closely.

Ozma: All students will be dressed for their first day. And there will be a few other occasions where you will need to wear proper attire. But, for now, leave that to us.

Oscar smiled. He had never worn something that looked so fancy before. But, this was his life now.

Starting tomorrow, he would begin his journey to become the next Wizard of Oz.