The Enchanted Forest
Thirteen days prior to the Final Eclipse
Cora, the former Queen of Hearts, was not patient woman nor was she one to cross but her companion seemed to have forgotten that. The original plan was that he would climb the beanstalk, take the compass from the giant and bring it to her. A simple task really, but the fool never made anything simple and now he'd been stupid enough to let himself get caught. Once again it was up to her to fix the mess he'd made. It was the Outer Zone all over again and she'd barely escaped with her life the last time and now word reached her that Commander Ozopov was alive and well and there was no doubt in her mind he would be searching for them. It was time to leave that wretched realm behind and go find her daughter. Her mission to find the remaining two Dark One daggers had failed. Now she had to get her hands on the only one she had a chance of taking.
Oz (The Outer Zone)
Years earlier
"I do hope you enjoy your accommodations," Commander Jiminy Ozopov taunted when he appeared inside the prison dome he'd confined her in. "Now, I believe I asked you a question and I'd like an answer: Where Is Killian Jones?"
"I don't know! I…ahhhh!" she screamed when he blasted her. She crumpled to the ground.
"I have two guards with their hearts ripped out that are evidence enough that you are the one who helped him to escape. Why were you here? What are you after? Very well." He gestured and teleported them out of the prison. "Bring her to our quarters and summon Lylo!" he snapped at General Lannot while Az stood by, nodding. They had their suspicions but only a reading with Lylo would confirm them. Cora was dragged into the Sorceress's throne room and confined to a chair laced with squid ink while Lylo placed his hand on her forehead, projecting an image onto the mirror above the fireplace.
"Heartless Queen seeks missing blades. Seeks power…seeks to become immortal."
"So, you know the legend of the three blades. I'm impressed. Very few do."
"Once I get one of those daggers you'll all be on your knees before me," Cora sneered.
"I wouldn't count on it," Az retorted, enjoying seeing the former queen believe Bastinda was in control of her at that moment. "They are well hidden, even we can't find them and if we did, their power would be OURS, not yours!"
"Perhaps we can…"
"An alliance with you? Don't make us laugh!" Jiminy chuckled. "I would rather see your head on pike first! You and that worthless piece of trash you travel with. Mark my words Cora, when I find him, I will have his head on a pike for the crimes he's committed in our realm. And I will enjoy seeing you be sent to Ephesis where you belong!" He gestured again, and Cora vanished in a puff of smoke.
The Enchanted Forest
Years later
Cora entered the giant's castle seeing the captain hanging from the rafter in a golden cage while the giant slumbered in a chair below him. She approached him slowly, a bottle of Wonderland shrinking potion in her hands and threw the contents on him. He immediately shrunk down to their size. She threw a little more on him and shrunk him down further then teleported him into one of her heart boxes until she had use of him. She despised the Ozopov mages but they could shrink people and objects with minimal effort and it was a skill she wished she'd been able to learn without needing potions.
"Cora please, get me out of here!" Hook begged. She snorted and flicked her wrist, teleporting him out of the cage. "Wait, how did you get up here without using the cuffs?"
"I had my suspicions you'd double cross me, so I made another pair." She raised the sleeves of her gown to reveal a matching set of cuffs. "With some modifications that made my climb a bit faster. My dear Captain, it seems you've been on quite an adventure. The compass, please."
"Yes, that. Well matters grew complicated. It's eluded me for the moment. The details of the affair are a bit of a bore."
"Really? Stealing my protection spell and climbing the beanstalk without me might seem like a bore to you, but to me, it's a betrayal."
"I was gonna bring it to you. Our agreement remains. We are going to Storybrooke together. I'll get it back."
"I don't have time for your games. I've crossed through too many worlds to be brought short at the brink of success. Who was it who bested you? The swan girl."
"Emma. Rest assured, it won't happen again."
"No, it won't. You chose her and the consequences of that decision."
Oh. Are you gonna kill me now? Go ahead. Try," Hook challenged.
"So brave. No, I'm not going to kill you. I have something far more satisfying in mind. I'm going to leave you here with your thirst for revenge unquenched, while I complete our journey without you. Or I could simply take you back to the Outer Zone and turn you over to Commander Ozopov."
"He's dead!"
"Oh no, he's very much alive and still wants your head. I'm inclined to give it to him."
"There's no need to be rash. We can discuss this."
"Your pretty face buys you a lot, but not my time. It's too valuable. The final eclipse is coming, and I want my daughter back."
"I can do this. I can get it back. You need me."
"No, I don't. You've had your chance. Now it's my turn to do this the right way." She reached into his chest and tore out his heart. "Now see how it's done." She sent the boxes containing his heart and Tiny to her trunk aboard the Jolly Roger and they began their descent down the beanstalk. Once she was on the ground she summoned another box and took out the heart within it. "Rise," she commanded.
The heartless corpses in the safe haven burst out of their primitive graves and an army of the dead marched toward the new safe haven, their purpose to obtain the compass and kill all those that stood in their way.
Storybrooke, Maine
Regina pulled her car into the driveway of Rumple's mansion, still reeling from the shock that he'd actually invited her into his sacred lair after all these years. She raised her hand to knock on the door as Belle opened it. The younger woman glared at her.
"Out of the way, bookworm. Your husband summoned me. He…oooof!" The mayor went flying through the air and landed on her backside on the lawn.
"You were saying?" Belle asked, her hands sparkling with magic. "I've waited twenty-eight years to do that."
"Y…You have magic?" Regina gasped.
Belle teleported over to where she lay, grinning. "I do and you're going to play nice unless you want to experience the hell you put me through for twenty-eight years in that damned asylum firsthand."
Regina conjured a fireball that was quickly snuffed out.
"I am the Heart of the West Guardian, Regina. Your powers are no match for mine now."
"You bit…."
Regina gasped, tasting soap and looked down to see a bar of Camay sticking out of her mouth.
"And don't be putting teeth marks on my soap! It's expensive!"
Regina frantically tried to pull the soap out, but it wouldn't budge.
"I could do worse to you….FAR worse but I would darken my heart. However, that does not forbid me from dishing out just a wee bit of payback!" Belle gestured and the vines from her rose garden wrapped themselves around Regina's wrists and ankles and pulled her up. "And you deserve it, so take it like a man! Oh, and I wouldn't struggle against the vines either. My roses have sharp thorns."
Rumple stood on the doorway clutching his belly as he laughed hysterically.
"Well done, dearie, well done!" he applauded and approached his former apprentice. "May I?" he asked, his hand poised over the bar of soap.
"You may but if she says one word I don't like it goes back in!"
"Deal!"
He pulled the bar of soap out and Regina spat out some of the awful taste.
"You're lucky you aimed at the ground dearie or the next thing you'd be spitting are teeth," he warned. "You're angry, that much is obvious but as my fiancée pointed out, she could do much worse to you for the hell you put her through. All we would need to do is summon the amulet from where it ended up and the wraith will return. And we both know you don't want that. Nor do I because it would devastate Henry and I've grown too fond of the lad to do that to him."
"You leave my son alone."
"Not a chance! Now pull yourself together because we have a worse threat to deal with. Your mother!"
Regina flinched. "She…she was supposed to be in Oz! That's where Archie last saw her!"
"Apparently, she escaped after he was sent here, and he is too weak to handle her at the moment which leaves us. The only portal she can come through is the wishing well and it needs to be destroyed. Now, are you going to keep standing there being childish help me stop her?"
"Do you have to ask? I don't want her here any more than you do but if we destroy that portal how are Snow and Emma going to get back?"
"Archie's taken care of that. Come along. Belle, you should come as well."
Once they were in the basement workroom Rumple summoned several books from their secret hiding places behind the walls, many of them written in Ozian, a language she knew Rumple was fluent in but refused to teach her. Belle gestured and one of the books floated off the table and hovered in front of them.
"Rumple, if Belle is the Heart of the West then that means…"
"I am the West Guardian, Regina, yes."
"Then you don't need me. You're powerful enough to stop my mother yourself."
He frowned at her. "I don't have all my powers yet Regina. That's the price I paid when I became the Dark One's vessel. I will only get them back when I neutralize her first blade. There are two more out there and that's what she's after. Do you think she'll be the loving mother you've always wanted after she becomes Alemedia Demonia's vessel, dearie? I think not. You forget she ripped her own heart to stop herself from loving me. What is it she always says?"
"Love is weakness," Regina said sadly. "My grandfather told her that."
"What do you need me to do Rumple?" Belle asked.
"Translate, sweetheart."
It was strange for Belle to be working side by side with the woman that had once been her tormentor, but she would do so for her beloved's sake. He still considered Regina to be the child of his heart. While they were working Regina looked up from the ingredients she was grinding into a powder, her eyes meeting Belle's.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I know it doesn't take back everything I did but….I'm trying to change…for Henry."
"Do it for yourself too," Belle advised, stunned that Regina was making an effort to show any remorse. It was a step in the right direction, but she had a long, hard road ahead of her and there would be many temptations she would have to face along the way. She didn't enjoy having to deceive the former Evil Queen into thinking that these spells and potions they were working on would keep Cora out of Storybrooke yet the will of the OZ had to be done. Regina had to earn that right to become the Heart of the East and she would do so through pain and sacrifice.
Rumple stood back and observed the two women he loved most in the world working together and forging a fragile alliance that he hoped would grow stronger in time. The potion completed, and the spell written, Rumple took them out to the shop floor and locked them in his safe. Suddenly they heard the bell tinkle above the door.
"At last!" Rumple said softly, clenching his arm into a fist and pressing it against his left shoulder. Belle did the same and the pair kneeled before the couple that had just walked in the door. "Welcome to Storybrooke, cousin and Archie…welcome home!"
"Go on Dellia," Archie urged. Az took a few steps forward before her cousin rose to his feet and took her in his arms.
"Your battle with the darkness is over dearie," Rumple murmured, stroking her hair. "Now it's my turn."
"You won't be alone. Archie and I will fight with you. Strogoff and Ozopov, united. That is the will of the OZ."
"Why are you here now? The OZ cannot have recovered that quickly!"
"It hasn't," Archie spoke up.
"Rumple, is this the real Archie or a construct?" Regina snickered. "It has to be. Archie'd never go around dressed in tie dye, ripped jeans and purple sunglasses. Or grow his facial hair in."
"It is me, Regina. Dellia and I made my cursed self the exact opposite of who I really was in the OZ and in the OZ I adopted a sort of hippie lifestyle. You can thank the Consort for that. He came from the flower power generation and passed his love of it onto Dellia. She got me into it."
"You start smoking weed around my son and I'll turn you back into a bug!"
"We don't smoke weed and we both know I'm more powerful than you, so I can take my cricket form anytime I want to."
"So, what are you going to do with your construct?"
"He needs to be in my place a little while longer. Dellia and I are back at full strength, but we gotta lay low for a while. The Sons and Daughters of Shadowlands are after our baby and I am NOT going to let them take her from us AGAIN!"
"You're pregnant? Oh, congratulations!" Belle exclaimed and hugged Az.
"No one is getting your child Archie. We will ward your place so tight not even Cora could get through it," Rumple promised.
"Cora," he growled. "Tell me you've got an idea on how to keep her out."
"We do," Regina said.
"Regina, I want you to continue your sessions with my construct but do not be surprised if I swap places with him once in a while."
"I have a feeling that will be interesting."
"Now, dearies, tell me what is going on in the OZ."
Shadowlands
Ephesis
Her name was Ozmalita, meaning "Light of Oz" in the ancients language but the two times she had to live as a human she went under a different name yet her purpose was the same. The first time she was Nimmie, the beloved of Nick Chopper, charged with teaching his heart how to love until it could be claimed by his destined mate, the other sider Dorothy Gale. She surrendered his heart willingly, but it was never claimed and died in silent agony until Ozma allowed it to be born again in Wyatt Cain. Ozmalita, now Adora Cain was returned to the mortal realm with the same task to complete. Now the princess Dorothia had come to claim him and it was her duty to surrender him, but she could not surrender him to Dorothia. She risked her mistress's wrath by failing in her mission, but she had no other choice. She had something far more precious to lose than her immortality and the goddess of Paradise's grace.
Ozmalita...
Adora cringed as she heard the familiar voice and found herself in the throne room of Shadowlands. Alemedia smiled down on her from her black throne, a glowing white heart clutched tightly in her hand.
"What is thy will, my mistress?" Adora asked through gritted teeth.
"You know what my will is. Whom will you choose? Lurline or your son?" Alemedia squeezed tighter.
"My son," she sobbed as she sank to her knees.
"Very well. Destroy the bond between Dorothia and Wyatt and your son will live. Fail and I will crush his heart and blast his soul into oblivion."
"Your will be done, my mistress," Adora said bitterly.
"You may want to reconsider the tone of voice you take with me, Ozmalita. Remember, I hold your son's life in my hands."
"Harm him and nothing will stop Wyatt from destroying you!" Adora raged and then laughed hysterically.
Almedea shot an energy bolt at Adora that singed her wings and forced her to her knees. "Laugh once more and it will be your last, bitch." She formed a viewing ball in her hand and Jeb's image appeared in it. She raked her sharp fingernails across the glass and Adora could hear her son screaming inside it.
"No!" Adora cried.
Central City
"Jeb!" Xenia pulled him into her arms, horrified when she saw several bloody marks on his chest as if someone or something had scratched him. The sounds of her screams brought DG and Wyatt over to them.
"Jeb!" his father cried. "Who did this?" he growled, his eyes turning red as his rage overtook him. He took his son from Xenia's arms and held him tightly.
"Alemedia," DG hissed. "If you want to pick a fight bitch, pick it with me, but leave Wyatt and his son alone!" she challenged.
I intend to, they heard a female's demonic voice say on the wind. You are no match for me little girl!
"You're no match for me, bitch!" Wyatt snarled, his eyes now turning red. "Why don't you come out and face me instead of hiding in that damned dark hellhole!"
We'll meet soon enough, he heard her say in his head.
And when we do I'll rip your black heart out and crush it in my bare hands!
You're not strong enough to destroy me.
I will be and then you'll beg for my mercy bitch.
Almedea sighed with satisfaction as she tasted the full extent of the powers he possessed. At full strength he would be able to blast her soul into oblivion, but it was not toward her that she wanted those powers directed. It was toward her bitch sister. He would show Lurline no mercy when he put his mind to thinking about how much misery she brought to his life.
DG, feeling Wyatt's destructive powers unlocking, ran to his side and pressed her hand against his heart, pushing her light into him. She reached for his hand with her loose one and a protective shield formed over them while Raw and Otille tended to Jeb.
"The darkness in each other we will fight
With a flame burning with love's brightest light!"
she chanted.
"Young Cain need more healers," Raw said softly.
"Let's get him inside," Ambrose said as he, Tyler and Raw carefully lifted the injured young man up. DG released the shield over her and Wyatt.
"Go with them," she said softly.
"My boy," he moaned. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to him..."
"We won't let it, Wyatt," DG vowed. "Somehow we'll find a way to stop her."
"You aren't coming?" he asked her.
"I need to speak to Az…and our cousin."
He nodded and headed for the infirmary.
Shadowlands
As she struggled against the chains that kept her confined in Alemedia's throne room Adora wished with all her heart and soul that she held the powers her sisters did. Wyatt was now their only chance to save their son, but he would also be forced to sacrifice something else as precious to him, his heart.
Almedea descended the steps and stared down at her captive. "When Lurline casts you into this realm do not expect your eternity here to be a pleasant one and you will feel the same agony as the princess for attempting to go against me."
"The Guardians will destroy you!" Adora spat.
"Must I remind you again of the consequences of showing defiance to me, Ozmalita?" She made the viewing ball reappear and an image of Jeb in an infirmary appeared. Alemedia's sharp fingernails touched the glass.
"No...please," Adora begged.
"You have five days to seduce Wyatt back to you. If he is not yours at midnight on the fifth day, your son dies." Almedea released the chains. "I will be watching you Ozmalita so when you speak to him, choose your words carefully."
Back in her chambers in Paradise, Adora sank to the floor and began to cry.
"To save our child from a horrifying fate
Her heart he must break
In silent agony her heart will die
If she cannot see the truth behind the lie
My own fate I cannot see
An eternity in pain and darkness it must be
For that is my punishment for defying the will of the OZ."
Wyatt sat beside his son's bed, his fists clenched in silent rage. He could feel darkness overtaking him but as much as he tried, he couldn't force it back. For years his family been at the mercy of others and it was now time to end it. He would make them all kneel at his feet before he crushed them under his heels.
I am the dragon. They will all face my wrath, but no one will ever be my master! He thought before he drifted off to sleep.
The Dream Realm
He found himself back in DG's old room, standing at the foot of the bed where one of darkest events in his life had taken place, the death of one of the people he loved. His Dottie, only she'd been a child then.
"…Wyatt."
"Adora…." He whispered and turned to see her standing behind him as a shade, still as beautiful as he remembered her.
"Ozmalita," she corrected.
"Oh, I should've known!" he moaned. "You were trapped in human form again as you were then. Why? Why did you break my heart again? You knew what it did to me the first time! Why, damn you Nimmie, why? You and DG; you tormented me in my first life and you're doing it again in my second! WHY!?"
"Because it was the will of the OZ," she sobbed.
Centuries earlier
With a careful swing of his axe Nick Chopper split the last log and added it to the growing pile on his wagon ready to transport to the eastern realm sorceress Nessarose. He sat down on a stool and used a rag to wipe the sweat from his brow. He enjoyed his weekly trips to the sorceress's castle. She always greeted him with a smile and asked him to come in and have tea with her while they chatted about daily life in Winkieland. She also made sure he left with a full plate of strawberry tarts and teased him that he needed to find himself a wife who could keep his house, have his children and fatten him up with her good cooking.
In many ways Nessarose was like a second mother to him. His own parents died during a terrible flu epidemic that struck the land twelve annuals earlier. The flu had taken so many good people in the land and those who were left behind struggled to rebuild their lives. Were it not for Nessarose's kindness Nick knew he would be without a home and a steady job since she was his one and only client. The rest of the residents of the land had no need of a woodsman since they could chop and gather their own firewood.
"Let's get a move on Neru. We wanna get to Nessa's house before dark," he said as he climbed into the driver's seat of the wagon and took the reigns. His horse whinnied in agreement and trotted down the dirt road. It was a three hour trip with only a few stops along the way. Neru would've been able to make the journey blindfolded since she and her master knew the roads so well.
When they arrived at Nessa's cottage there was a young woman out in the yard hanging the day's wash on the line, her back to him. He was shocked. He'd always assumed Nessa did her household chores on her own. Why hadn't he seen her housekeeper before?
"Hello," he called out as he climbed down from the wagon. "Is Nessa here?"
The woman turned around and the sight of her nearly took his breath away. She had silvery blond hair, green eyes, fair skin and the white work dress she wore made him think she looked like one of the angels he remembered his mother telling him stories about when he was a child. She often said that angels were the most beautiful creatures in all the OZ and the young woman standing before him would put them all to shame.
"She went to the market to buy some herbs. Who are you?" the woman asked softly.
"I'm uh...Nick...Nick Chopper," he said nervously.
"Oh, the woodsman! She talks about you often. Thank goodness you came when you did. I used up the last of our firewood for this load of laundry and she would be so angry with me if she came home and there was none left for the potion she was working on. I'm Nimmie," she said as she held out her hand.
He reached for her hand, wondering why he was so nervous. He quickly regained his composure and shook it gently.
"I...I've never seen you here before. Have you been working for Nessa long?"
"Just a few weeks."
"Why haven't I seen you before?" he inquired. "I usually stop by several times a week but I always see Nessa but not you."
Nimmie sighed. "She doesn't want any men to see me."
"Well, why not?"
"Because she's afraid I might run off with one of you and get married," she answered.
"What's wrong with getting married? You're uh...very pretty and any man in his right mind would want to marry you."
They were both blushing and quickly looked away from each other. Nick knew he was just a poor woodsman, but he couldn't help wishing he could have a wife as pretty as Nimmie. After all, it was what Nessa had always been telling him to do; get married and have a family. He was already twenty-five and nearly all of the men he knew in Winkieland were married and had several children.
"What about you?" Nimmie asked. "Why aren't you married?"
"Haven't found the right woman yet," he answered.
"Nimmie! I don't pay you to stand around flapping your gums when there's work to be done!" they heard Nessarose snap as she walked up the dirt road with a basket in her hand. Nick was stunned. He'd never heard such a harsh tone in his friend's voice before.
"Y..Yes ma'am," Nimmie said timidly as she bent over the laundry basket and continued hanging garments on the line.
"And you! What took you so damned long to bring me my firewood?" she snapped at Nick.
"Well I...uhh..." he stammered.
"Oh, never mind! Just unload it!"
What's gotten into her? he pondered. He glanced over at Nimmie several times while he worked but she refused to acknowledge his presence, almost as if she were afraid to. He could feel Nessarose watching them, her eyes ice cold. When Nimmie was finished hanging the wash she dashed into the house. As Nick added the last log onto the pile he made, he turned around to see Nessarose standing behind him. In her hands she had a bag of strawberry tarts and the coldness he'd seen earlier was replaced by the motherly affection he was used to.
"I'm sorry I took so long to come out here," he said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll see you in a few days." she said with a smile.
Nick took the bag and put it in the small storage box he had on his wagon. As he was leaving he caught a glimpse of Nimmie poking her head out the front door.
"Well, that was strange Neru," Nick mumbled. "Nessa's never been nasty to me before." The horse snorted. "Well, she hasn't. "And as for keepin' Nimmie hidden...she's too pretty to be locked up."
He was plagued by thoughts of her the entire trip home. The Harvest Dance, the largest social event in all Winkieland was coming up and he didn't want to go alone this time. He only hoped he could convince Nessarose to give Nimmie permission to go.
It was after midnight when Nimmie opened her eyes. She crawled out of bed, put on her robe and ran outside, glancing behind her shoulder to make certain she wasn't followed and headed into the woods and sat down on a fallen tree stump. She pulled a tear shaped pendant out of the bodice of her nightdress and cupped it in her palms.
"Your angel Ozmalita calls to thee
Mistress Lurline appear now before me," she chanted.
A white mist appeared before her taking the shape of a shadowy young woman in a silver gown. Nimmie rose from the stump and kneeled at the feet of the goddess of Paradise herself.
"Why have you summoned me, my dear?" the goddess asked softly as she used her magic to form a protective shield over them.
"I have located the West gate keyholder," Nimmie answered.
Lurline sighed with joy. "At last!" She waved her hand and a large crystal ball hovered between them. "Show me."
Nimmie placed her hands on both sides of the ball and allowed her memories to flow into it. Nick's image appeared in the glass.
"His powers are bound without the other half of his heart." Nimme explained.
"Ah yes, the South Gate keyholder. Have you located her?"
"I have not but when I took his hand I was given a vision. She is not from this world yet the powers she and Nick will have together will be strong enough to not only imprison Alemedia in Ephesis, but also to defeat her."
"That cannot happen Ozmalita. They must imprison her in Ephesis, nothing more. If they gain control of the Underworld who is to say that they will not attempt to defeat me?"
"Nick has a good heart. He will serve you faithfully mistress."
"You had better be right Ozmalita because if tries to gain control of the Underworld I will hold you personally responsible and you will no longer have my protection. Is that clear?" the goddess demanded.
"It is, my mistress."
"The affections he is starting to have for you are weakening the locks on his heart and his magic, but you must always keep in mind that his powers can only be fully unlocked when his bond with the Southern keyholder is consummated."
"She is not yet a woman."
"How young is she?"
"Ten annuals."
"She will not have enough power to imprison Alemedia now. She may, however, be able to drive her essence out of Nessarose. Nessarose is having more and more difficulty keeping her from taking control of her body and her magic."
"If we force her essence out of Nessarose she will try to take possession of Bastinda or Glinda's soul next."
"I'm afraid Bastinda will be a far easier target," Lurline said with a sigh. "Bastinda is more powerful. She also tends to use her darkness more than her light."
"There's nothing you can do?"
"No. Not as long as she's in the mortal realm. And you know the protection laws of this world would not apply to Nick's bondmate since she is not from here and once Nick consummates his bond with her, they would not apply to him either. And we both know damned well that if my former consort Aramon found out there was someone out there who had enough power to defeat Alemedea and me, he would not hesitate to tell them how to do it, so he could have his own revenge on us for his exile."
"That's why we need Glinda and your mortal descendant to balance out Nick and his mate's darkness with their light. Is he still under Alexander Strogoff's protection in the Emerald City?"
"Yes. Nicolai will not be able to take the throne of the OZ until he is twenty annuals. I should have listened to you. You warned me there would be consequences for not maintaining the balance and now this world is in more danger than it ever has been before."
"We will set it to right again, Mistress. I must get back before Nessarose suspects I'm gone."
"Be careful Ozmalita. As long as you're in human form Alemedia can harm you. And if she takes the other three protectors there will nothing I can do to save either of us."
"It will not come to that Mistress."
Lurline vanished leaving the young woman alone. As she sat outside Nimmie thought of the woodsman again, unable to deny the sensations he stirred in her the moment their eyes met and their hands touched. It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. From the moment of her creation she knew her loyalty was to her goddess and her goddess alone and many of the pleasures humans took for granted were forbidden to her, yet she longed to experience them just once.
Nick rose early the next morning and instead of making the necessary repairs to his cottage roof he sat on his porch whittling a piece of wood. Keeping Nimmie's image in his mind as he worked, the wood began to take the shape of a beautiful woman. There were other small wooden carvings scattered throughout the house that his friends kept insisting he take to the marketplace to sell but he couldn't bear to part with any of them. Every one of them was inspired by something or someone he cared about deeply. His favorite was the carving he made of his horse Neru, named for the moon itself.
"So, who's the girl?" he heard his friend Rufus the tinsmith ask him. He looked up from his carving. Rufus and his wife Coraline took it upon themselves to look in on him after his parents passed away just like Nessarose did and had they not had seven children to feed, they would've taken him in.
"Nessa's maid," Nick murmured as he worked.
"Maid? No kiddin'. I didn't know she had one."
"Me neither."
"You gonna bring her to the Harvest Dance or chicken out just like the last time?"
"I didn't chicken out!" Nick protested. "I fell off Neru and was passed out for a few hours."
"Uh huh. Every time a girl wants to go to the Harvest Dance with you, there's always some excuse why you show up alone or don't show up at all. You're gonna havta settle down soon son. You're not getting any younger."
"I know. I'm...I'm thinkin of asking Nimmie to come to the dance with me but I don't want any trouble with Nessa."
"Why would there be? Ain't she always telling ya to settle down?"
"Yeah but Nessa acted a bit strange when I was out there. Snapped at the poor girl for talking to me and yelled at me because she said I took too long bringing her wood out to her. Then she turned around and was as sweet as honey."
"She's a woman. They get moody ya know."
"This was more than bein' moody Rufe."
"Ah, I wouldn't worry too much about it," the tinsmith said.
"I have to worry. She's a sorceress. If she gets mad at me she might put some kind of curse on me!" Nick cried.
Rufus shook his head. Nick was a good boy but not the sharpest tool in the shed in his opinion and he worried over nothing. "Ask the girl to the Harvest Dance and don't fret over Nessa."
He wished he didn't have to but although it was only that one time that Nessa was so cold to him he sensed there was something else behind it and he had to find out what it was. The next day Nick rode out to Nessa's cottage. He spotted Nimmie out in the yard raking up leaves and rushed over to help her.
"I can manage," she said softly.
"You work too hard. Why don't you sit down for a few minutes?" he asked.
"I...I have to get the yard cleaned up before Nessarose gets home. She doesn't like all these leaves laying around." Nimmie explained while she continued raking.
"The way the wind's been blowing lately you're gonna be picking them up constantly. Where is Nessa by the way?"
"Went to see her sister."
"Bastinda the Bitch," Nick muttered.
"That's not nice!" Nimmie scolded.
"Well it's the truth. She's as mean as a snake. She was here once when I came to deliver some firewood and treated me like I was a bug under her boot. I bet she's mean with you too."
"She is but it doesn't bother me."
Nick handed her a small sack.
"What's this?" she inquired.
"Something I...uhhh...made."
"Oh, how nice," she murmured as she opened the bag and took out the carving, gasping when she realized how closely it resembled her. "Y...You made this for me? Why?"
He looked away, unable to find the words to express his feelings. "I know...I know, it's stupid. I barely know you and..."
"I feel the same way," Nimmie confessed knowing Ozma would strike her dead for it but she didn't care. She reached over and took his hand in hers. "You're a good man, Nick Chopper."
"Look uh...I was wondering if you want to go to the Harvest Dance with me this weekend."
"I'd like to but Nessarose may have a problem with it."
"I don't understand why she wouldn't want you to be happy."
"I think she's lonely and having me around helps."
"All I've heard her do is order you around," Nick pointed out. "Nimmie, why is she mean one minute and nice the next?"
"She usually turns mean after she's visited her sister."
"The Bitch."
"Nick," Nimmie admonished.
"I know...be nice but I don't have anything nice to say about her. She's mean and she scares people around here plenty. I think she enjoys it too."
Nimmie found little reason to disagree with him especially when she sensed Bastinda was surrendering more and more of her soul to Alemedia with each passing day. Soon there would be no light left in her to conquer her darkness. With two of the strongest sources of the light in the OZ under the control of the dark queen of the Underworld, the greater the chance that it would become nothing more than a haven for the most evil creatures of the world. Images of pain and suffering filled the angel's mind.
It can't happen. Not as long as I have the ability to prevent it.
One of her three chances was this handsome young man who possessed very little intelligence, but he had no need of it for his true power rested in his pure and loving heart. Once that heart was bound to its soul and its missing half through unions of love, light and blood, the world would be safe from Alemedia forever.
"Nimmie! Must I remind you again about sitting around talking while there's work to be done? And you? What are you doing here?" Nessarose demanded from behind them. Nimmie cringed in terror and released Nick's hand.
"I came here to ask Nimmie to the Harvest Dance," Nick answered calmly as he stared down the furious sorceress. She glared at him, her dark eyes burning with hatred.
"She won't be going," Nessarose stated firmly.
"I think that's for her to decide."
"You hold your tongue, boy!" Nessarose threatened.
"Why are you so against her seeing any men? And I thought you'd be happy that I finally found a woman I was interested in. Ain't you always tellin' me I need to settle down?"
"You can settle down with any woman you like...except for this one!" Nessarose hissed as she stretched out her hands. Nimmie flew off the steps she was sitting on and was pressed against a tree. Vines grew out of the ground and wrapped themselves around her.
"Nick, get out of here!" Nimmie cried out as she struggled to free herself.
"I'm not leavin' without you. You don't belong here with her when she treats you like this."
"Nick, please!"
"Run away while you can, woodsman," the sorceress said, her voice now sounding demonic and her eyes turning black as coals. Several bird shaped markings appeared on her chest. "Zora, take him!" she commanded.
"Nick, for Ozma's sake run!" Nimmie screamed as one of the bird shaped markings flew off the sorceress's chest and became an animal that was part monkey and part bat. The mobat lunged toward him and grabbed him in its massive claws.
"I warned you before what would happen if you disobeyed me, Nimmie," the sorceress reminded her servant. "You have a choice to make. Agree to never see him again or I have my demon tear him apart."
"Nessa, stop this...it's not you. I'm your friend, remember?" Nick prodded.
"You're trying to take what belongs to me."
"Nimmie is a human being not a possession!" he shouted. The demon gripped his arms tighter, its sharp claws digging into the flesh of his arms. He felt warm streams of blood pouring down them.
"She is what I say she is!"
"Nessarose, I'll do whatever you ask, only please let him go!" Nimmie begged.
"Then I want your word that you'll never speak to him again...or he dies."
"Nessa, what the hell's gotten into you?" Nick demanded. "That sister of yours must've been puttin' ideas in your head because the real you would never hurt anyone!"
"How perceptive you are, woodsman," Nessarose said softly as she approached him. She pressed her hand against his chest and felt an energy source in his heart the was bound yet held powers even she didn't possess in this form. "Ahhhh...what have we here...?"
"No..." Nimmie moaned as she struggled to free herself.
"And how would a feeble-minded woodsman possess a heart with bound magic?" Nessarose inquired.
"I don't know what you're talkin about. I don't know anything about magic," Nick insisted.
"Oh, but I feel it," the sorceress murmured, pressing her hand firmer against his chest. He glanced down, shocked when he saw a faint glimmer of light where she was touching him. "And I want it!"
"You'll never have it!" Nimmie screamed. The sorceress spun around and faced the captive servant girl, her lips curled into a sneer.
"So you've gotten better at masking your presence Ozmalita, but not good enough and your precious goddess can't help you. You bound the magic he has, now undo it!"
"I can't!" Nimmie insisted.
"You mean you won't. Not even to save his life?" Nessarose pressed.
"I can't. It can only be unlocked by his bonded. You know that!" Nimmie cried.
"Then bring her to me!" Nessarose hissed.
"I can't," Nimmie sobbed. "She has to come here through a travel storm."
"Very well. There's another way. Release him, Zora." she commanded the mobat. Nick fell to the ground. As he was about to rush the sorceress she sent a burst of wind at him that threw him against the side of the cottage.
What the hell have I gotten myself into? he thought frantically. All I wanted to do was ask a pretty girl to a dance and I'm gettin' mixed up in some magic stuff that'll be the death of me for sure!
"So much light in the heart of a woodsman. If you can't unbind it, I'll just have to cut it out," the sorceress whispered as she focused her gaze on the axe sitting in the back of Nick's wagon.
"Nooooo!" Nimmie screamed as the axe flew through the air toward the direction of the house, slicing Nick's right hand at the wrist. He howled in pain. Nessarose cackled wickedly as she commanded the axe to sever his left hand. "Please stop," Nimmie pleaded.
"Then summon a travel storm and bring me the South Gate keyholder!" the sorceress commanded.
"Whatever she wants, don't do it," Nick croaked. "She's gonna kill me anyway."
"If I summon her, will you let him go?"
"His heart is worth more to me alive than dead." She turned back to the servant girl and shot an energy bolt at her. "The travel storm, Ozmalita. Now!"
"Nimmie, for Ozma's sake it's a trick!" Nick shouted.
"I can't let her hurt you anymore."
Nick barely understood what Nessarose and Nimmie were fighting about if he had to give up his life to protect someone else, so be it. His eyes met hers and he pleaded silently with her not to give in to Nessarose's demands.
The spell holding Nick against the side of the house weakened and he fell to the ground, his arms bleeding profusely from where his hands had once been. She waved her hand and the woodsman vanished along with his wagon and horse.
"W...What did you do to him?"
"Sent him away but if you keep refusing to bring the South gate keyholder to me I'll have his axe chop at him until there is nothing left but his precious heart."
The goddess clapped her hands and vanished, leaving Nimmie at the cottage alone. She sank to the ground and burst into tears. Although she was beginning to love the woodsman her first duty was and always would be to her goddess. She could never surrender the South gate keyholder.
When his horse Neru led the wagon to their home, Rufus and Coraline had been horrified at the condition their friend was in. Both of his hands had been severed at the wrists but even more disturbing was his news that it had been no accident.
"Nessarose did this to ya?" Rufus asked.
"I..told you...she'd curse me," Nick murmured. Rufus and his sons pulled Nick from the wagon and took him in the house while Coraline fetched the doctor. Unfortunately, there was little the doctor could do but attaching a tin limb to a human being was not a foreign concept to Rufus. He'd made a new leg for one of their other friends, years before and he managed to live and work with it just fine.
Over Nick's protests, Rufus and Coraline insisted the young man move in with them. He built himself a smaller house in the backyard and insisted on earning his keep by helping Coraline with the household chores, but he hadn't touched his axe since Nessarose used it to sever his hands. Word of her treatment of him spread fast in their village and everyone began to fear the sorceress. She was especially cruel to the munchkins yet Nick heard nothing about Nimmie.
It never stopped him from thinking about her. One day he saddled his horse and rode out to Nessarose's cottage, concealing himself behind an apple tree and waiting until Nessarose left the cottage to go on her daily trip to the marketplace before he knocked on the door. It opened slowly and Nimmie stood on the other side, her eyes wide with horror.
"Nick, what are you doing here?" she cried. "You have to go...please!"
"I had to see you, to be sure you're all right," he said softly.
"Now that you've seen me you should go."
"Come with me."
"I can't!"
"Why? You can't stay here with her. Look what she did to me!" he cried, holding up his arms with the new tin hands on them. "She'll hurt you worse if you stay."
"She'll hurt you if she finds out you're here!" Nimmie cried.
"What made Nessa change the way she did? Bastinda? And why did she call you Ozmalita? Ozmalita is supposed to be Lurline's right hand."
"Because I am Ozmalita," the angel said softly and allowed the spell that was disguising her appearance to weaken. Her white wings appeared on her back.
"Why didn't you tell me who you were? Why did you lie?" he asked, unable to disguise the pain in his voice.
"My duty is to protect the heart of the OZ, and one half of it is you," the angel answered.
"I don't understand what you mean, Nimmie. I don't know anything about magic."
She pressed her hand against his chest. "Lurline is to have four protectors here in the mortal realm. You've already met two of them. Nessarose and Bastinda."
"Nessa and her mean sister are supposed to be Lurline's protectors? That's crazy!" he cried.
"They weren't always evil Nick. Bastinda's lust for power has turned her and Nessarose is under the control of Alemedia, the goddess of the Underworld, Ephesis."
"Well, can't you stop her?"
She shook her head. "My powers are weakened as long as I'm in the mortal realm as are Alemedia's. That's why she took control of Nessarose. She's using her magic."
"What's she want?"
"After I discovered that Alemedia has been corrupting Nessarose and Bastinda my task was to come here to the mortal realm and locate the four humans with the strongest and purest hearts and souls and give them the powers they would need to become Lurline's protectors and return Alemedia to the Underworld. They represent the four points on the compass." She picked up a stick and drew a makeshift compass configuration in the dirt. "Each of them will have the ability to control one of the four elements as well as have a symbol." She moved him into the western direction. "You are the Western Gate. Your element is fire and your symbol is the blade."
His eyes widened. "I can control fire?"
"Not yet but you will learn to."
"Why me? I'm just a simple man. Why did you pick me to protect the goddess? I can't even protect myself from a mean witch!" he growled.
"I would give anything to be able to unlock your magic so that you can protect yourself against Alemedia's attacks but I cannot. The only one who can is, the Southern Gate keyholder."
"Who's that?"
"Your female counterpart. Her symbol is the chalice and her element is water."
"So, the witch wants to use her to get to what magic I've got in me?"
"Yes."
"Can I get rid of it?"
She knew of only one way, but she wouldn't dare reveal it. Severing a bond such as theirs set in motion a painful curse on the one who broke it.
"No!" she said firmly.
"The punishment is severe for defying the will of the OZ
A heart bond of our choosing is one that is meant for eternity
Should this bond be broken by human device
Everything it holds most dear it will be made to sacrifice
The rivers of its memory will flow with the image of spilled blood
Until the dams burst and they become a raging flood
If one day the lost half of its heart returns to reclaim
The one who has forgotten it, through love shall it be relieved from its pain."
"If breakin' this bond is so bad, why didn't you just leave me alone!" Nick cried. "I didn't ask to have magic in me and I don't want it." He stood up and started to walk away. "And I doubt the girl who can unlock it wants hers either," he added.
"Nick, please don't go yet."
"First you wanted me to leave, now you want me to stay. Make up your mind, Nimmie...Ozmalita...or whatever the hell your name is!" he said bitterly.
Nimmie expelled a deep sigh. "You don't know how hard this is for me. My duty is serve and obey my goddess at any cost but I would give anything to have what you do."
"You'd want to be normal, like me? Why?"
"Because I would have your love," she sobbed. "Just once I wanted to know how it felt to be loved and now that I've seen it and experienced it, I've realized how lonely my existence truly is."
"I never thought an angel would be unhappy," he mumbled.
"We have feelings like mortals only...we are forbidden to have such close contact with you unless we're ordered to."
He scowled. "Oh, aren't you? So while we regular humans suffer through our lives you all just sit in your shiny palaces and watch until your boss tells you she needs you to do something for her. Seems to me we're nothing but puppets and the great Lurline is holdin' the strings!"
She should have struck him down for uttering such blasphemy but there was an undeniable ring of truth to his statement.
Central City
Centuries later
"…And we're STILL her damned puppets! Was making me fall in love with you again and having our son one of her orders Ozmalita? Was it?!" Wyatt raged.
"No. I wanted your love. I wanted it so badly I defied my goddess to have it…and I will do so again and again! I love you and I always will…in EVERY existence I have! I surrendered your heart to that foolish girl once and I'll be damned if I'll do it again! You still love me. I know you do. You can't forget all the years we had that easily Wyatt Cain."
"No I can't," he confessed. "But I can't be with you now. I…I have to move on…as hard as it may be…I have to. Because I love her too."
"Do you? Or do you think you do?"
"I don't know."
Now back in her human form, Adora came up behind him and began to massage his shoulders as she used to after his long days of training at the Tin Man academy. "She is still a girl, but I am a woman, Wyatt and I'm not afraid to love all of you as she is. We can be a family again…you, me, Jeb, Xenia and any children they have. We won't have to be puppets anymore. We would be free. Don't you want that?"
"Yes," he whispered. "Adora…."
"I love you Wyatt."
He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. A bond would be consummated that night in that bed, but it was the wrong one and the Balance would shift once again.
Storybrooke
Az! Az! I need you!
"Archie, it's DG. She's in trouble. The seeing globe. Quickly!" Az commanded. Archie reached into the bag he was carrying and took out a seeing globe, placing it on the glass display counter. Rumple waved his hand on it and a raven-haired women in her early twenties appeared in the glass. "Deege, what's wrong?"
"There's no time to waste. We must go there now!" Rumple said. "Archie, dearie ye'd best be telling me ye hae a travel a storm token!"
"I do."
"Rumple, wait…what about…?"
"Destroy that portal if we're not back in time Regina!" he ordered and teleported himself, Belle, Archie and Az to MacDonald's farm. Archie tossed the coin and a funnel cloud began to spin its way toward them. "Hold on tight, Belle! We're going to the OZ!"
We're coming cousin, we're coming, Rumple sent to the terrified young woman on the other side of the storm.