Oscar couldn't quite understand how an entire city could be made of what seemed to be rock, but here it was. He stood before the large gate in awe at the sight of the stone. It looked like one large gem. Must be the Emerald part of the Emerald City. He'd never seen an Emerald before, but he liked the color. The green seemed to shine from the moonlight.

Oscar: I suppose a green city isn't that odd compared to a talking lion.

Guard: You always talk to yourself, boy?

Oscar looked forward to find a man sitting there on a wooden stool. He looked old and like he had been guarding this door longer than Oscar's been alive. His beard reached his stomach and seemed to curl at the end. His mustache was also quite large and well kept unlike the Ringmaster's. His uniform was green and looked unfamiliar to the boy. His buttons were adorned with emeralds and the only other colors besides green were gold and black.

Oscar watched as the man got to his feet with a bit of struggle. He then shuffled over to the boy.

Guard: You don't look like you're from around here.

He came to a stop and rested his hands ontop of his cane. Oscar began to wonder what exactly he would be protecting the city from in his old and withered state. Still, he seemed kind.

Oscar: I ain't. I'm looking for someone named Ozma.

The old guard began to stroke his beard. Through the slits of his eyelids Oscar could see that his pupils were just as green as the stone around him. There was history behind those eyes. How long as he been a guard for? What kind of things has he seen? Has he ever been in battle before?

Guard: Ozma did mention that someone should be here today. Didn't think it'd be so late.

Oscar looked up at the night sky. The stars shined beautifully. The black and purple colors seemed to drip as if freshly painted on a canvas.

The Guard tapped on the gate with his cane. A noise echoed through the air before the doors began to open to reveal the city itself. It was utterly beautiful. The guard tipped his hat at the boy and returned to his stool. Oscar walked through the gates and began to walk through the city's streets. With it being nighttime, only a few residents were out and about. He was amazed by their clothes and the way they spoke. Their accents were strange to him, but he found them interesting.

He stopped when he reached a shop window. He approached it to look inside at all the hats on display. One in particular caught his eye. A well designed top hat with a green band around it. He had seen some people with hats like this before. They were filthy rich, but he always wanted one of his own.

He heard someone clear their throat and looked over to see the shopkeeper giving him a suspicious look. Oscar looked down at his clothes and remembered he looked like he didn't have any money. He nervously smiled and quickly shuffled away.

Oscar slipped his hands into his pockets as he looked around. Where was this Ozma person at? She sounded important, so maybe she would be at some great building? He came to a stop and looked over to see such a building.

That had to be where she was. Oscar started off towards the tower.

~•~

Oscar looked up at the tower with a hanging jaw. He had never seen a building so tall. Oscar took a look around before he spotted a door. He headed over to it and knocked. He took a step back and waited.

After a moment of no answer, he tried again. Still no answer. He raised a brow before knocking harder, resulting in the door swinging open. It smacked into him and sent him on his behind. Oscar gasped before the person responsible stepped out.

???: Can you not get the message?

Oscar looked at the girl confused. She was just ignoring him? That wasn't very nice. He got to his feet and realized he was taller than her. He crossed his arms.

Oscar: I'm looking for Ozma. Is she here?

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she looked him up and down before deciding he wasn't a threat. Just some skinny brat. She turned her staff downwards.

???: You're the one she's been waiting for? I was starting to think you'd bailed.

She then sighed.

???: Very well. Follow me.

She entered the room leaving the door open. Oscar debated against doing so, but figured he didn't have much of a choice. As he stepped through the doorway, the door closed on it's own. Oscar turned to look at it but found the front of his shirt getting hooked on the girl's staff. She dragged him along, seemingly annoyed at his slowness.

This continued until they entered a weird box like room that could maybe fit five people. She let go of the boy and reached over to slid a metal grate into place. She then pulled a lever that caused the room so shake slightly. Then they were moving upward. Oscar was both confused and amazed. How was this room moving?

Oscar looked at the girl. How old was she. His age? She looked a bit younger. But she also seemed so mature.

Oscar: Excuse me.

The girl looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

Oscar: What is your name? I never got it.

The girl didn't give her name. She just looked forward. Oscar could physically feel the coldness coming off of her. He shuddered and decided to remain silent for the rest of the ride. Fortunately it wasn't too much longer. The elevator came to a stop and the girl slide the grate open, stepping into a room. Oscar followed quietly only to see a sight that nearly broke his mind.

It was a woman, but she was seemingly guiding a trail of smoke with her finger. She looked up when she heard the two approach, smiling before standing.

???: There you are. I suppose you got lost on your way here?

Oscar looked at this woman and the way she was dressed. There was no doubt in his mind, this was Ozma. The woman he was sent to look for. The first step in his destiny.

Ozma: You must be the boy from Kansas. It's nice to meet you. My name is Ozma.

Oscar nodded.

Oscar: Yep. That's me. My name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. People just call me Oscar, or Oz. Mostly Oscar.

The woman smiled.

Ozma: That's quite the name. But welcome to Oz, Oz.

The girl rolled her eyes. She thought the name was rather ridiculous. Oz was meant to show the power in the people here. Not some skinny twerp.

Ozma seemed to have caught her annoyance.

Ozma: Braum, behave. He is our guest.

The girl, Braum it seemed, stood at attention and bowed her head.

Braum: Apologies, my lady.

Ozma turned back to Oscar.

Ozma: This is Braum. My personal guard. She will also be your guide during your time here.

Braum lifted her head with wide eyes.

Braum: What?! But, my lady, I....

Ozma: Will gladly accept this responsibility with the upmost respect and importance.

She looked to Braum with her shining green eyes. Oscar felt a strange relationship between the two of them. Were they mother and daughter? No, that wasn't it. Mentor and student? That sounded right. There was a sense of respect in the air. It was clear Braum took her responsibilities seriously.

Oscar: I'm sorry to interupt, but I'm still not sure what's happening.

Ozma looked back to Oscar and smiled.

Ozma: Of course. This must all be very confusing to you. But it's quite simple.

She waved her hand, causing a stream of green smoke to appear. It showed a land of castles and Knights. Oscar looked upon it in wonder. It was like something out of a book.

Ozma: This land is not the world you know. This is a world of magic and fairy tales. Every tale you know in your world is true here. And every character goes here.

The image changed to show a different kind of castle. One where people that looked his age gathered to go to school. He didn't really know what this was, but it looked magical.

Ozma: This is Ever After High. And this is where you will be attending school.

Oscar scratched his head which made Braum groan.

Oscar: School? But, ma'am, I ain't ever gone to school.

Braum: You don't say.

Ozma shot her a look which made Braum look away. Oscar lowered his hand awkwardly.

Ozma: That's no problem. We will be providing you with what you need. We have some time to prepare you.

Oscar: Prepare me, ma'am?

Ozma nodded.

Ozma: I will be providing you with knowledge. Braum here will be placed in charge of your physical training.

Braum held back a groan which didn't go unnoticed by Oscar.

Ozma: Now, you must be tired. Braum here will show you to your room. Braum?

Braum: Yeah yeah.

She grabbed Oscar by the back of his shirt and began to drag him along. Ozma gave a short wave until they left the room. Once they were gone, Ozma lowered her hand. She still didn't completely understand why he was here, but she knew better than to question the higher power. If this boy was set to save their world, then so be it.

~•~

Oscar slept more peacefully than he ever had in his life. The bed was the perfect size and everything was just so comfortable. He never wanted to wake up. But he found his wish voided when something suddenly picked his cheek roughly. He sat up and looked to his left to find Braum standing there with her staff.

Braum: Get up.

Oscar narrowed his eyes before he tosses the blankets off of himself. Braum seemed completely unbothered by the fact that he was just wearing a white undershirt and his boxers. He stood up and looked around for his clothes, only finding a pile of new clothes on the dresser.

Braum: Get dressed and meet me in the dining room. We'll have a quick breakfast then we'll see what you can do.

She left without another word. Oscar yawned once he was alone. He then looked back to the clothes. As he got dressed he thought back on the last 24 hours. He figured he should be a bit more concerned about everything that's happened, but he couldn't find it in himself to really question it. Even if this was all just a dream, or even if he was dead, it was a million times better than having to deal with that monster back in Kansas.

Once he was dressed, he headed down the hall towards the dining room. A grand room where he found Braum already eating what looked to be a bowl of fruit.

Oscar: Is Ozma not joining us?

Braum: It's Lady Ozma. And no. She has bigger concerns than getting some kid ready for school.

Oscar frowned. How much longer will she be cold towards him? He didn't even do anything. He literally just showed up. Rather than try and change her mind, he simply walked over to the other end of the rather long table where his bowl of fruit waited. He sat down and picked up the fork he saw Braum using and took a bite.

His eyes grew wide at the taste of the juicy fruit. He immediately started to dig in, having come to realize that he hasn't eaten in a while. Almost two days. Braum looked up to see him practically shoving the fruits into his mouth. Her face of annoyance slowly turned to a face of disgust.

Braum: He's disgusting.

~•~

Braum leaned against a tree as she waited for Oscar to catch up. While she was able to hike with no trouble, the boy had never had to take such a hike. He wasn't prepared and his feet were killing him. Braum checked her nails to see that they were still looking good. She may still file them later.

She heard footsteps and looked up as Oscar finally reached the top of the hill. His breath was rough and he was already tired. He definitely shouldn't have eaten so much. He stumbled a bit before he took a seat on what seemed to be the remains of an old stone house.

Oscar: That was rough.

Braum rolled her eyes. This was going to take a while. She simply tossed something his way. He barely had time to catch it but managed to do so. He looked at the staff just as Braum started to roll her shoulder.

Braum: Alright. All you have to do is land a single hit on me and we can call it. We aren't going back until you do.

Oscar sighed and got to his feet. He had never gotten into a fight before. Still, how hard could this be? He just needed to hit her one time and she didn't even have a weapon.

The two stood across from each other as a gentle breeze passed through the trees. Oscar tightened the grip on the staff and took a step forward. However, Braum wasn't wasting any time. She immediately rushed forward and grabbed the staff with one hand, using her other to deliver a chop to the back of Oscar's neck. The boy winced as he fell forward.

Braum tossed the staff down beside him. Oscar stared at it before looking back at her. She was just checking her nails again. Oscar grunted before he got back up and picked up the staff. He then rushed towards her to try and attack again. However, this time Braum ducked down and simply swept his feet out from under him. He landed face first into the ground while Braum sighed.

Braum: We're gonna be here a while.

Oscar couldn't only groan.

~•~

Oscar rubbed his arm as he walked down the hall of the tower. He was sore and he was sure he had a few bruises forming. Braum finally gave up and decided to just send him back when the sun began to set. He definitely felt like he had failed. And now he was just tired.

He was lost in his thoughts when he found himself walking past the door to Ozma's room.

Ozma: Oz?

Oscar suddenly stopped and looked into the room to find Ozma sitting at her desk. She smiled and motioned for him to come in and take a seat. He was a bit nervous to do so, but he did comply and entered the room. He sat down across from the woman who placed whatever she was working on aside.

Ozma: You look like you had a good session with Braum. Are the two of you getting along now?

Oscar looked away. Braum did everything but spit on him when she called it a day. He definitely wouldn't say they were getting along. Ozma seemed to catch this.

Ozma: Yes, well, she did have a rough life before we met. She has trouble with trusting others.

He could relate. Oscar couldn't really remember if he had ever called anyone a friend or even trusted anyone like he probably should. Hell, he trusted Ozma more than he ever did his own father.

Oscar: Well, did I do something? She seems to not really like me personally.

Ozma: No, it's just how she is. She'll warm up to you the more time you spend together. Just give it time.

Oscar sighed. Time. If course.

Ozma: But tomorrow you will be with me. I will be working to tutor you with some basic knowledge you'll need for Ever After High.

Oscar: And what does that mean?

Ozma: Just basic class work. You don't need to get everything right away.

Oscar smiled. That was at least a relief. But he still didn't know much about this world. As he looked out the window he began to wonder what else was out there. And just how much will he get to see?