Chapter I

"Azkadellia, I think it's time that I teach you something a little more advanced than our usual lessons."

The dark brunette heir to the Outer Zone looked up ecstatically to her teacher. "Really, Tutor?"

The were-dog nodded in confirmation. Besides her mother, Azkadellia was one of the brightest students he had ever taught. Blessed with a wealth of inner magic, the girl took to manipulating it like a duck to water. Her younger sister also had the ability, but not the patience enough to master it. Luckily DG's beloved elder sister was there to guide her, step-by patient-step.

"When can we start?" The princess tried to keep a regal face on but her excitement shone through to her teacher anyway.

"Not now," the man said chuckling. "It'll have to be at nightfall."

The girl struggled to hide her dismay. It was still early morning. She'd have to wait hours for her lesson!

A familiar giggle sounded off in the green bushes of the royal garden.

Well maybe she'd find some way to occupy the time, she thought, as she chased her delighted, shrieking sister across the lawn.

TinManTinManTinManTinManTinMan

Night fell and the stars of the OZ were putting on a spectacular show. Azkadellia breathed in the crisp night air. Had there even been another perfect night in the realm?

The royal tutor led her to the conservatory. The glass panes served to keep the outside extremes away and the interior quite comfortable.

"Now concentrate, Azkadellia."

The girl had to smile at Tutor's statement. He was constantly admonishing her little sister to do the same, much to the little girl's frustration. Luckily Azkadellia could always play the role of wiser sister and help her out. The two, when combining their power by clasping hands, were unstoppable.

Her teacher continued on, "Today, Princess, we are going to learn about dream walking."

Azkadellia's mouth dropped open in surprise. She knew of this advanced magic. Her mother had touched her little sister's forehead during a bad dream brought on by a childhood fever. Later on DG recalled she was being chased through the dark woods by a ferocious bear, but her mother had materialized through the blackness to comfort her daughter. Not long after the dream walk, DG's fever had broken, and she recovered into the ball of rambunctiousness she was today.

The elder sister propped herself against some pillows, arranging her skirts demurely around her.

"Azkadellia, the first thing you must do is to ensure that your physical body is shielded from harm. You'll be defenseless as you dream walk."

She nodded knowingly. Her mother had always done so in the security of the palace and her husband's watchful gaze.

"Next, and most importantly, you must be protected mentally from intruders who could take over your mind. I've never heard of it ever happening but it was said that the witches of old could do so with ease."

The girl shivered. She had been recently learning the ancient language of the old ones, and the tales that spoke of the Witch of the Dark were pure evil.

"Picture in your mind an impenetrable wall."

Azkadellia dutifully brought up the image of a plain brick wall common to the city.

Tutor gave an experimental push against it with his mind which held for a few moments before crumbling as he gave a harder one.

For a second Az felt the intrusion of his mind upon her young one like oil upon water. It did not belong, this foreign object, this unnaturalness and her body sought to repel him.

As quick as he broke in, he retreated, leaving the princess shaking, curled up upon the divan. He laid a warm hand against her trembling shoulders. True to her bearing, she wiped the tears of fear from her face, setting her face in determination.

"That is what happens if you leave your body unprotected as your mind wanders, your majesty," Tutor spoke to caution her. "Your mental wall is your best defense in this situation. It is an embodiment of yourself. Fortify it with thoughts of your family and dear ones. Love is the greatest barrier against those that want to harm you."

The girl heeded his worlds. This time she built her wall from the golden bricks of the legendary old road. Its mortar she pictured grass from the great prairie mixed with the crystal clear waters from Lake Finaqua. This time, her shield withstood any blow that her teacher threw at it. He gave her a wide smile in approval.

The line of the House of Gale had weakened in its magical abilities due to the dilution of the esteemed bloodline though great wizards and witches had married into the famous line. Nevertheless the First Slipper, Dorothy Gale had no magic herself. It was said that Ozma the Unenchanted herself granted the girl some power due to their great friendship. The two current princesses were the first in decades to possess a great quantity of magic. Together the pair could rival Glinda the Good herself.

"Now your highness, I will be your guide, to make sure you do not get lost when you travel through dreams. It is too easy to wander aimlessly and neglect the living world."

He closed his eyes putting up a mental wall himself. Azkadellia pushed and prodded the impenetrable structure observing the memories of tutoring her mother, the Queen, and images of another woman, his wife, interwoven in the brick. She'd have to remember that the next time.

"Pick someone whose dreams you would like to see, Azkadellia."

Immediately she thought of her mother but knew that the Queen had important matters with the Winkles the next morning. The woman probably wouldn't want her sleep interrupted by her daughter's first lesson. There could only one other person to pick.

"DG!"

Tutor smiled. Never were there two more loving sisters, though they still bickered like typical siblings.

"Alright," he instructed her. "Picture DG, then you will see a door. This will be the entrance to her dreamworld."

The elder sister could easily imagine her little sister's gap-toothed smile and bright blue eyes. Her Door, the familiar childhood bedroom one materialized in Azkadellia's mindscape. With an eager hand she opened it only to encounter a land of talking trees that threw apples at a laughing DG.

The princess rushed in aiding the blue eyed girl in an impromptu apple fight.

"Az!" the DG exclaimed giving her older sister a big hug after the two girls emerged victorious.

"Deeg," her sister returned the greeting while straightening out DG's ruffled dress and shoes. The smaller girl made a face and squirmed away.

DG glanced up with adoration at her older sister. "What are you doing here? Am I dreaming?"

"Yes, DG Tutor's teaching me how to dreamwalk." The man gave a courteous bow to the second princess.

The little girl gave him an exuberant hug in greeting. "Toto! When can I learn?"

The teacher fought to keep the grimace off his face at the unwanted nickname, but it was hard to stay mad at the precocious DG. "When you're older," he answered in response to her.

DG gave a little pout. "I'm always too young to do anything."

Azkadellia gave her a warm hug, "Don't worry. You'll get there, and I'll always be around to help you."

The two girls exchanged an affection goodbye, and Azkadellia exited from DG's mental Door, watching as it dissipated into the air.

"And that, your highness, was your first lesson in dreamwalking."

Hi everyone. I completely meant to write for a different fandom but this story would not leave my mind. It was inspired by that one scene where Azkadellia awakens from a nightmare and the scary Witch's face pops out in the mirror. It also was supposed to go in a certain direction but went another way instead. I'll explain later.

Please enjoy,
Grignard