Disclaimer, the usual

That night, as dorothy found herself drifting to sleep, she could swear she heard Madeline voice. Telling her to relax, take deep breaths, and after the count of ten, to hold it. she found herself complying to these orders, but she wasn't sure why. She could still feel Alex's arms wrapped snuggly around her. she knew whatever was about to happen, she felt safe with it. she took a few deep breaths. And on the last one took a deep breath in.

"and breath" came Madeline's voice, but it sounded distance

Dorothy opened her eyes to find herself standing, in what appeared to be a giant library. Looking at herself she found she was in the nightgown that she had put on before going to sleep. She felt dazed, and a tiny bit confused. She wasn't sure if she was awake, or if her double had done something she didn't quite understand. It didn't feel right to be here but at the same time she felt that this was where she should be.

"Maddie, where are we?" dorothy asked, her own voice sounding far away, and echoing.

"the dreamscape, as I like to call it." came Madeline's voice

Dorothy could just here the smirk she was doing now.

"that doesn't really answer my question." Dorothy said turning to see if she could find her.

"short version, or long version?" Madeline asked curiously.

Dorothy shook her head. Either way she was going to get the long version, this place didn't seem like one that Madeline would drag her too just to mince words. Madeline, however, was fully aware of this point and appeared in front of her. smiling a smug smirk. She was in the same outfit she had been wearing when they had first met.

"which do you think?" dorothy asked.

"the dreamscape is a, well its kinda like a construct that exists specifically between you and I, I've been trying for a while to get you here, the problem is that you have to be asleep for it, and specifically speaking relaxed." Madeline said, "now that you've been here once, you'll find it easier to get here." She added smiling smugly.

This explanation didn't sit well with dorothy, and Madeline could feel that. However, the thought suddenly dawned in her mind.

"so, I'm asleep?" dorothy asked curiously.

"soundly, and while this may come as strange to you, so am I." Madeline said smiling.

"but how does this work?" dorothy asked curiously.

"well, our connection, the way it works could be two way if we really tried to force it." Madeline said, "I created this sort of psychic room as it were, to organize information between us and memories." She said referring to the large number shelves.

Now this struck dorothy as slightly odd. Looking at the shelves they seemed to stretch far into the distance.

"you might need some explanation farther than that I expect." Madeline said sighing, a chair suddenly materializing behind her, as if it were building itself.

Dorothy found herself sitting in a chair of her own, a sort of arm chair. It was one she remembered from somewhere, but the memory wasn't recent.

"that would be nice actually." She said, finding herself becoming awkwardly comfortable with what she was going through.

"well, you know what a lucid dream is correct?" Madeline asked curiously.

"sort of, one of those dreams where you're aware that you're dreaming." Dorothy said nodding.

"well think of the dreamscape like that, as for the information, this is where I keep everything I've studied that I don't specifically speaking need same with memories, I do have a section dedicated entirely to you." Madeline said snapping her fingers.

Immediately the room shifted. Things seemed to bend and distort in an impossible way, soon they were in a different part of the library. A set of shelves arranged in a circle. Stretching almost higher than she felt that they should. Most of the books had what she could only describe as gold along the spines. There was however, ten or so books with that were completely crimson. Looking foreboding.

"those ones, what are they?" dorothy asked curiously.

"the memories you don't like, I added one recently, I think." Madeline said.

"you don't know?" she asked finding this oddly humorous.

"this place changes from time to time, reversing in time, or going forward, this won't come as a comfort to you, but I'm not one hundred percent on how this place or rather this specific section of the dreamscape, works." Madeline said shrugging, "I think this area is really meant to be controlled by you, you could technically do anything you want here, and have no effect on your world or Oz." she added

"but shifting in time?" dorothy asked.

"only way I can describe it, unless the place is messing with me, which isn't too far out of the question." Madeline said smiling.

"well, its in our heads, isn't it?" dorothy asked curiously.

Madeline shook her head. This came as both a discomfort but at the same time a comfort.

"it's sort of in between, like I said, sort of like a construct." Madeline said smiling and snapping her fingers again, as the room shifted she continued, "instead of trying to force the connection and force all my information and thoughts into your head, I figured it'd just be easier to pull you into the dreamscape, I said its exclusively part of our connection but as you've probably worked out by now. That's not entirely true."

Dorothy nodded

"is it always a library?" dorothy asked

"well this area yes, the dreamscape is infinite in extent, anything you want can be around, anyone can create a dreamscape, I just can't remember the proper name for it." Madeline said smiling

"so, you use it for what? Information you don't need, like a sort of storage bank?" dorothy asked not feeling to comfortable with this information but at the same time taking comfort in it, "okay new question, because this is really bugging me, why do I feel so indecisive about this?" she asked incredibly curious.

"because I pulled you in here, instead of trying to teach you how to enter it on your free will, you're subject to my way of thinking and my emotions." Madeline said smiling, as if she were intentionally trying to wind her up.

"but I heard your voice, you asked me to relax, take deep breaths, how did that work?" dorothy asked raising an eyebrow.

"projecting myself to you, jack suggested I try to bring you here, it is possible to bring others into our dreamscape, however both of them, jack and alex I'd expect, are awake." Madeline said a watch appearing in her hands, "time passes differently here depending on our needs, a few minutes here could be hours out there, or hours in here could just be mere minutes" she added

"so, for all we know, it could be morning?" dorothy asked.

"something like that, because I pulled you here, the place is acting up, I tend to come here when I take a catnap if you'd pardon the expression, when you wake up you'll be completely refreshed, and possibly expelling magical energy." Madeline said sighing.

Dorothy sighed, pinched the bridge of her nose, and rubbed it.

"Maddie, what have I told you about doing this stuff without asking me first?" dorothy asked.

"not much, it's come up…" Madeline said trailing off and a book appearing in her hands, she flipped through it, licking her finger every few pages, "once maybe twice." She continued

Dorothy shook her head

"so, I'm part of an experiment with our connection?" dorothy asked.

"yep, sorry." Madeline said smiling though dorothy knew she wasn't.

"how sound asleep are we?" dorothy asked.

"very, you won't wake up unless you go through the door I came in through, I don't know specifically where your door will appear when you come here yourself." Madeline said snapping her fingers again.

Again, the place began to shift, moving them impossibly fast down the halls, twisting, turning, bending, curving. Suddenly they came to a stop with large wooden door between them. It had no business being here and apart from the door there was nothing besides walls and a floor. She felt uneasy, but relaxed. Looking at her double, she knew she wasn't getting the whole story. Madeline saw this and smiled.

"you haven't told me everything." Dorothy said.

"no point in getting you worked up about nothing, this place makes less sense than my own personal existence." Madeline said smiling and getting up.

"worked up? About what?" dorothy asked worriedly.

"well, one very important detail, something I've thought about doing just for a laugh, I'm waiting to see if you get it." Madeline said smiling.

Now this was a game dorothy didn't like. A guessing game with someone who was her intellectual equal. Looking at the door however, her own way out. Why would she bring them here. This wasn't where she started but Madeline had a look that said she would get it in a moment. It was then the question pinged into her head.

"you aren't suggesting trapping me here?" dorothy asked.

Madeline smiled, and started laughing.

"I've done it to jack, once or twice recently, just for a laugh." Madeline said smiling, "and to try and teach him not to sleep the day away." She added.

"Maddie that isn't funny, you brought me in here and you are the only one who can let me out." Dorothy said now becoming concerned, "you wouldn't trap me here would you?" she asked.

"only if I really needed a laugh, like I said you'll be able to come here easily now in your own sleep, though, theoretically it is possible to get here while awake as well, but I haven't tried that yet either and I don't recommend you two try and pursue it." Madeline said, causing dorothy to sigh in relief and stand.

Opening the door, she smiled and gestured for dorothy to go first.

"so, what exactly will happen when I step through that door?" dorothy asked.

"well, two things, one, it'll feel like you're falling back into your body," she replied smiling, "and two, do you remember what I told you to do when you arrived?" she asked with a giggle.

Dorothy thought about this for a moment, she had to think before she could remember. Everything felt wrong and unusual here but considering the not so complete explanations she had been given she didn't find this too surprising anymore. Then it clicked again.

"you told me to breath." Dorothy said.

"Because its your first time, I don't know if you got the breath out before you came in, the connection is rather funny here, don't worry all of your subsequent trips here will feel much smoother, better, and mildly more reliable." Madeline said smiling.

"so…I could have been holding my breath for quite a long time then?" dorothy asked.

"we'll find out, after you." She said smiling.

Dorothy nodded, looking into the open door. There was nothing but blackness. She could hear noises, but they were far away like everything else was here. And she still wasn't even sure where here was. Bracing herself for whatever was to come, she looked to Maddie. She was met with look of encouragement. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and a step forward. Suddenly she found herself falling. She wanted to scream but realized this wasn't going to do any good. She felt like she was picking up speed. She could hear someone humming. The tune was familiar but at the same time not.

Then suddenly, she opened her eyes, bolted up and took a heavy breath in. she coughed and looked around. The room was bright, but she was where she had been when she went to sleep.

"10 o'clock." Came Alex's voice, followed by the sound of someone crunching on an apple.

She felt awake and alert, and incredibly aware of her surroundings. Madeline was to one side of her, alex at the other. He was sitting in a rather ornate armchair. It was similar to the one she had sat in while inside the dreamscape.

"so?" Madeline asked curiously.

Dorothy said nothing, there wasn't much to say. Looking at alex, however, brought several questions to mind.

"how much have you been told?" she asked looking him in the eye.

"enough to know not to try and disturb you, jack filled me in on the basics of, what was the place, the dreamscape?" alex asked turning to Madeline.

"a psychic and magical construct." Came Glinda's voice from the nearby standing mirror.

"what do you know about them?" dorothy asked pushing herself into a comfortable sitting position.

"most magic users are taught how to create a dreamscape as you call it, it gives us a way of storing and sorting information, as well as a safe place to practice without exerting too much energy to create a temporary construct, I'm not surprised that the hatter created one that you two can share, I sometimes let ellie dip into mine if it's a rather uninteresting day." Glinda said.

"but what exactly is it?" alex asked.

"its like a construct, but it always exists no matter what, in a sort of reality between sleeping and waking." Glinda said smiling.

"like I was telling dorothy before we woke, theoretically it is possible to enter your dreamscape while awake." Madeline said conjuring a cup of tea for herself.

"with great care and precision, its one thing going in while asleep, but if you go in there while awake you could find your self stuck and having to work out the exact calculations to let yourself out." Glinda said sighing.

"implying you've done it before." Alex said with a chuckle.

"yep, not fun, just because you're in complete control of the dreamscape if you're there while asleep and while awake, doesn't make it as simple as just, you know, waltzing in and out." Glinda said.

"wait, what do you mean by calculations?" alex asked.

"magic, at one point, was more of an exact art, requiring all sorts of tools, powders, potions, salves, you name it, I'm sure I've got a book around here some place." Glinda said looking behind her.

"when did that change?" dorothy asked curiously.

"technically speaking, it hasn't." Madeline said before Glinda could respond.

"the prophet, the professor, even Cassandra, still prefer the older methods." Glinda added.

"hence him experimenting with all those colored powders in the brazier." Dorothy said, wondering where she got the word from.

"hah, you took something back from the dreamscape with you." Madeline said in a singsong tone.

Dorothy glared at her double, before returning her attention to Glinda.

"some people are old fashioned, but despite what we call laws, magic can still do and control anything if you have the right stuff and the knowledge to do it." Glinda said suddenly getting a look on her face that said, 'I've given this speech before, I really wish I didn't say that last part'

Dorothy shook her head and got up. Looking around for the scepter only to find it was no where to be seen. She held her hand out for it. within a moment it flew through the door and into her grasp.

"where was it?" dorothy asked curiously.

"tea room next door." Alex said smiling.

"I would suggest, the next time you two go to sleep or whenever you feel comfortable. And while I'm talking to both of you this request is specifically for you dorothy, to try entering the dreamscape on your own." Glinda said smiling.

"do we have to do it tonight?" Dorothy asked.

"I'd like to know what happens when you two do, but no it doesn't have to be tonight." Glinda said now appearing in the room, "but I think both of us are curious as to what would happen if alex tried to enter, would the beast also follow?" Glinda asked.

"there's no real way of knowing unless we try, but the beast has something similar to what jack described to me, a sort of parlor in our head, where he's just sitting, waiting for me to slip up so he can just burst out." Alex said sighing and slumping back in his chair.

"won't do it unprovoked?" came zinnia's voice as she appeared in the room, "that's oddly disappointing." She added.

"does the rest of the tribunal approve of you dropping in on us like this?" alex asked curiously.

"Fayth and I have been charged with keeping an eye on you two, or rather, an eye out for the beast." Zinnia said producing an envelope which she handed to Glinda.

"what do you know about the dreamscape?" alex asked curiously, "because you've almost certainly heard this entire conversation." He added, sounding a tiny bit miffed.

"quite a lot actually, like, it is possible to force your way into other people's constructs, you just have to have the right knowledge to do so, and if you share a dreamscape with someone, and for whatever reason you were dumb enough to enter it while awake and trap yourself there, the other person could fall asleep, go there and make an exit for you." Zinnia said cheerily, "assuming, of course, you have the knowledge of how to get into one while awake in the first place." She added.

"well that's just perfect to know, I have the theory on how to do it, I just down know how to get in there." Madeline said.

"you'll learn, in due time." Zinnia replied, "but now I must be off, I was just meant to deliver the message to Glinda and then return to observing, unless you want me to stick around for any reason." She said turning to dorothy and snapping her fingers.

Immediately dorothy felt a rush of wind blow over her entire body. She shivered and suddenly found that she was no longer in her night gown, but in a blue and white checked gingham dress. Similar to the one she had worn during her first trip to Oz. she turned to zinnia and smiled.

"thanks, saves me missing anything, but there is something I'm curious about, not with the tribunal, but with Maddie." She said turning to her double, "I can't help but feel that you're lying to me about your experience with the dreamscape, at least a tiny bit." She added.

"that's for me to know, and you to possibly find out on your own." Madeline said teasingly.

"why do they call it a dreamscape? Because to create it you have to be in some form of sleep or meditation?" alex asked curiously.

"Basically, if you'd like I have a book on the subject, but since you'll be using the one shared between the hatter and dorothy, I don't think it'll be necessary." Zinnia said.

"perhaps later, if I'm bored on one of the days the professor isn't around." Alex said sighing.

The scepter suddenly let out a low, sullen sounding ping.

"what? You really thought we were going to jump in head first?" Alex asked turning to it.

The scepter let out a single, rather sure sounding, ping.

"I mean, isn't that technically how it always happens?" dorothy asked.

"maybe for you, but if I get frustrated, with anything, the beast could come out, and cause actual harm." Alex said.

"then perhaps trapping you in the dreamscape would be slightly more productive than trapping you in an actual construct, you cant be physically harmed in the dreamscape, whether your awake or asleep, at least not by your own actions, or if the other person enters while asleep, there are no recorded instances of two people entering the dreamscape while awake." Madeline said summoning a chair and taking a seat.

"you seem to have put a lot of thought into this, hatter." Glinda said.

"I still need to study before putting him there, but yes I have, and, no offense to either of you." Madeline said turning to dorothy and alex, "but I'm terrified of the beast." She said.

"I'm confused, why are you apologizing for being afraid?" zinnia asked curiously.

"mainly for their sakes." Madeline said, "or rather, for his." She said vanishing and quickly reappearing behind alex and dorothy.

"Pity then?" alex asked.

"no, not pity, you have my respect, the beast doesn't." Madeline said sighing, "you have a moral compass of sorts, I'm not sure what the beast has." She added.

"and you guys bringing it up isn't going to help him." Zinnia said.

"Good to see someone realizes that, how long did Benton last before his demon burst forth again?" Alex asked turning to zinnia, his tone becoming more annoyed the beast screaming in his ears.

"if its any comfort, less than an hour, you've made it quite a lot longer." Zinnia said smiling, "but you're getting close to having it happen to you." She said

"you think I don't know that?" alex asked trying to sound calm, but only coming off as a mix of miffed an annoyed in his ears, a chuckle was echoing, "the beast is laughing at this, the entire thing and…" Was as far as alex got before he stopped himself.

Suddenly, the scepter started ringing again, the same long, church bell like sound that it did the night alex ran. Dorothy let go of the scepter and reached for Alex's hand. He closed his eyes, which immediately snapped open. They were now glowing yellow, the beast had woken again, he was the one in control now. He smiled wickedly, as his body became enveloped in light giving of energy. he started to laugh.

"Dorothy, considering what I don't know, lets go with what I do know, and that leads me into the question, how much do you trust me?" Madeline asked slowly drawing her wand from her sleeve.

"right now?" dorothy asked taking a step back.

"yes, in the moment." Madeline said sighing.

"more than I trust myself." She said taking the scepter back into her hands.

Madeline nodded, and pointed her wand at Alex's back. The transformation was still occurring, while the beast was in control he was not whole yet. Or so she thought, just as she was about to bind a spell on him, he turned, grabbed her wrist, causing her to wince in pain and drop her wand. He then pushed her back with such force that she flew backwards into the wall behind her. he went for the scepter now, only to be stopped mid step. He turned his head to see zinnia, arms outstretched in front of her, binding a spell.

She couldn't stop the change, in this state she couldn't put him to sleep, she could throw him into her personal dreamscape but that required letting him get at both the scepter and dorothy. However, this question suddenly became a moot point when a kind of portal, that of a swirling vortex suddenly opened up between dorothy and the rapidly changing beast. He was mid step when she bound him. He would fall forward into the vortex, into someone's dreamscape. Looking to the hatter, she was unconscious, almost certainly with the way she was slumped over. Dorothy didn't know what she was doing so that ruled her out. She turned to Glinda. Her eyes were closed, her wand was drawn, it was glowing as if it were on fire.

"do it now." Glinda said sternly.

Zinnia nodded and drew back, the spell breaking. The beast growled as he found himself suddenly released. Only to stumble forward and fall into the portal. Quickly it closed, the scepter's pinging stopped. Zinnia set herself to making sure the hatter was fine while Glinda walked to dorothy.

"the hatter may not have the knowledge to enter the dreamscape physically or to send someone there, but I do, and now the question she asked you, I must ask." Glinda said her voice becoming a mix of worry, and anger, "do you trust me right now?" she asked.

Dorothy said nothing, she knew the beast wouldn't hurt her, that he cared for her. alex had gotten annoyed and upset by the situation. she concluded, quite correctly, though she wouldn't learn this until later, that the beast wanted to show what he was capable of. If only for demonstration purposes. She looked Glinda in the eyes and nodded. Glinda sighed and smiled warmly.

"then you know what I have to do?" Glinda asked.

"go into your dreamscape after him, with my help." Dorothy said nodding.

"I have to send you first though, I don't want to, but I need ellie as well as Elphaba, getting ellie away from Jude long enough should be simple, just don't let him near you, while he can't cause you pain, he'll still be able to touch you, keep you there as long as he wants." Glinda said holding her wand less than a centimeter from Dorothy's forehead, "are you ready?" she asked both worriedly and curiously

Dorothy nodded, but she wasn't going to listen to orders. She wouldn't have the scepter with her, she knew she wouldn't need it. she wanted to see if she could appeal to the part of the beast that cared about her. however, she didn't have long to think about this, as Glinda tapped her forehead gently with her wand. She suddenly found herself falling again this time backwards. The world around her this time, was not pitch black, but sort of rainbow in appearance. Looking at it made her feel dizzy and ill. She closed her eyes and waited. Until suddenly, she stopped.

Okay it isn't often that I put a note down here anymore. The beast, and the dreamscape have been a long time coming. I actually wanted to feature them in the last story but couldn't find a way to make them do anything for the plot. The dreamscape will be elaborated on farther in the next part. Though the explanations with it that gave should make one thing perfectly clear, its idea isn't supposed to make complete sense.