That's What Makes You Strong
Summary: An AU version of Report Card. When Professor Crumbs does permanently remove Alex's powers, she refuses to let her devastation show to her family. Can they convince her that it's okay to lean on them for support?
A/N: Disney was having a WOWP mini-marathon today, and one of the last episodes was Report Card. That episode is one of my favorites (along with "Alex in the Middle"), so I was inspired when Alex came "this close" to losing her powers forever.
Sorry the first part is so short, but it's meant to be a sort of prologue for the story. The rest of the chapters will be longer.
Part I
For the first time in her life, Alex Russo begged.
Oh, sure, there were the times when she was young and she really, really wanted a pony or a trip to the toy store. Or even later, when she wanted more allowance or an extended curfew Yeah, none of those counted.
She didn't know what real begging was until she saw her powers in someone else's hand. Someone else who had the right to take a part of her identity away…forever.
"No, no, no, please don't do this! I've come this far, it's not fair!" Alex pleaded with the old wizard. She felt the disappointed stares of her family behind her, but she was used to that. That she could deal with.
She couldn't live without her powers.
But apparently, Professor Crumbs either didn't know or didn't care. "I'm afraid it is," he replied as he raised his hand to leave. "I shall take your powers and be on my way."
And then her powers were gone.
Alex was frozen. She didn't know what to say, what to do, how to respond. The loss of her powers was like…she lost a leg or an arm. How was she supposed to function?
"No…" she whispered as she hugged herself. She was crumbling.
Her eyes stayed glued to the floor. She didn't, couldn't look at her family. The disappointment and anger she knew would be there didn't bother her. But there would undoubtedly be some pity there now, as they all searched for some comforting words, or the courage to attempt a hug or pat on the shoulder. That she couldn't take.
She wanted to shake it off. She wanted to put on a smile, insult them for acting so serious, and move on. That was the routine whenever she messed up.
But…but she didn't have it in her. The devastation of losing her powers was so overwhelming that she'd lost control of herself. She couldn't get that usual sparkle back in her eye or put on her mischievous grin.
So, she picked her only other option. She ran into the hallway, slammed the door behind her, and sprinted the few steps to her room. There she also slammed the door closed.
Finally alone, she realized there was moisture on her cheeks. She reached up, followed it to the source, and was shocked to find that it came from her eyes.
For the first time in her life, Alex Russo cried.