Chapter I

Azkadellia braced herself as the winds began to pick up with force. A few miles outside the shining city's castle, she gathered the power needed to conjure up a time storm. It would be one of the last acts of magic she would perform before traveling to the other side.

Far from the watchful eyes of her parents, guards, and advisors, she sighed wondering how it all came to be.

TinManTinManTinManTinMan

"Are you sure about this, Az?" DG fretted as she went through her wardrobe in one of the opulent rooms of the royal quarters.

It was lucky that the younger princess had turned away most of the seamstresses' offers for long, flowing gowns. The girl preferred to replicate the simplistic t-shirts and pants so iconic to her. The material "denim jeans," however, served to only be a conundrum for the Ozians.

Her elder sister could only nod definitively.

"No one wants me here, Deeg. There's too many bad memories, and I won't be trapped in the castle like a prisoner."

A bad encounter with the locals left Az with egg in her hair, and DG with an irate Tinman in hers. The people who used to wave flowers in her honor now shouted their venom.

"Murderer! You don't belong here!"

"Where is my husband's body?"

DG could only protest, her heart aching for her sister. "No Az! You can still be lots of help. I need an advisor on how to run this madhouse. I never received the training. You did."

Tears began filling up on the brunette's bright blue eyes, as the former Sorceress gathered her up in her arms.

"Oh DG. The people love you no matter what. You saved the O.Z., and you saved me, but that's as far as anyone could do. This kingdom is no longer for me."

"But why the I.Z.? Why not Munchinkinland or even Ev?"

"No one knows me in your world, Deeg. I can start over as someone new. I won't be Princess Azkadellia, or the Sorceress anymore. No one in the O.Z. would fear I would return as the Witch or go mad again."

Gathering a small knapsack of shirts, skirts, and a notebook of instructions ("Why is the amount in your bank account so low, DG?), Azkadellia emerged, dressed in her sister's only pair of jeans and a soft blue flannel shirt.

"You should be able to tailor my wardrobe at Emily and Hank's house."

Azkadellia could only laugh, her first in a long time. She had enough trouble fitting into the shorter girl's pants.

DG continued on. "There's some emergency money you could use to go shopping for food and clothes. After that runs out, you can work my job at the diner."

The two girls gave a grateful hug to each other.

"Stay safe. I love you."

Az couldn't have adored her sister any more than she did at this moment. She would miss the blue eyed girl, her mother, and father. It would be the last time she would smell the sweet blossoms of the papay and taste the juicy apples from the trees in Finaqua, now restored. She gathered in her heart the bite of cold from the Northern Island and the warmth of the Ozian double suns.

"I'll find a way to contact you. Distract Cain and Ahamo from sending out the calvary for me," she said, and the two sisters separated into the night.

TinManTinManTinManTinMan

The winds were whipping and howling now, and the fugitive could see the epicenter she was to jump into.

This would be it. A whole new realm. No Sorceress, no royalty… just me.

She gathered her courage to make the leap.

"Going somewhere, Princess?"

Stifling a groan, Azkadellia took a deep breath. She knew that dry, sarcastic tone anywhere Of course it would be him, damn those blond, keen-eyed Cains.

The woman turned, meeting the scowling face of the younger son. Certainly it wouldn't be Wyatt Cain. The bear of a man was always on the trail of the wilder princess.

Jeb Cain, hero of the resistance! His exploits and his youth were lauded by every man, woman, and child of the O.Z. He was there in the final battle creating a diversion along with his father, Raw, and Glitch. So what was the man's reward for saving the realm?

Guarding a basketcase of a princess, apparently. He did it reluctantly, almost every day an accusation of when she would slip into madness again.

Azkadellia shouted above the din of the tornado.

"I'm leaving, Jeb! Just tell my Mother and Father you were too late! They won't punish you."

Jeb Cain shook his head. "My duty is to protect you, no matter where you go!"

"I release you from that obligation then! I can do that as my last act as princess of the O.Z.! You can't stop me!"

The blond gave a smirk. "Who said I was trying to stop you?" He jerked his head towards a small, brown travel bag across his slim shoulders.

Azkadellia could only open and close her mouth, gaping like a fish in shock.

"Do you think you're the only one trying to escape the past?"

Time was running out. Any minute now the windy vortex would collapse, and the Lavender eyed Queen and Ahamo would have her under lock and key, rather than escaping again.

She reached out with her hand, and the pair jumped.

Right as she blacked out, the princess only had one thought.

His hands were warm.

In my opinion, this was the only way for Azkadellia to try to heal and get her bearings again. I bet the native Ozians probably would have loved to forget she existed. This story started with an image of Azkadellia jumping into a travel storm. Saving the kingdom but it not being for her is from Lord of the Rings. This story is complete.

Please review,
Grignard