Flashback 13: Part 2: The History of Oswin & Alexandra
by Schammielynn
The wind was blowing, snow was falling, and Oswin Yorke was in no mood for yet another relentless magic lesson. Rumplestiltskin had proven satisfactory in teaching him magic, but there were many things about Rumplestiltskin's "style" that Oswin didn't approve of.
There was no doubt that Oswin was good- a little too good. Not to mention a little too conscious about what he was doing, as well. This could be dangerous if it were in the wrong hands, and Rumplestiltskin knew it.
Rumplestiltskin, as much as he didn't like it, had to teach magic. He had to find the one who would cast his curse. That would get him back to his son, lost to the world without magic. Oswin definitely had the potential. But did he have the guts?
Rumple led Oswin just to the outskirts of a town. There was a beggar girl, just barely in her 20's, huddling on the ground near a puddle in the rain. She had a mug in her had, probably used for money at some point, but now was scooping rain water from the puddle into her mug and trying to filter it somehow for clean water.
"Filthy peasant," Rumplestiltskin kicked her and he lost her balance from her crouching position and landed in the puddle. It took all the "evil" in Oswin not to help her up. So he stood there, watching as she coughed away the dirty water from her mouth and gave up trying to filter her water. The rags she wore were soaked now. It was beyond pathetic.
"Ahhh," Rumplestiltskin got a sinister grin, a gleam in his eye and kicked her again.
"Oswin, ma-boy, it's time you learn the art of relentless heart-grabbing and people-abusing to get what you want."
Rumplestiltskin and Oswin watched as the girl stumbled and fell over a few times. "STAND UP! YOU HAVE COMPANY!"
Rumple screamed and laughed and taunted her.
"Now, Oswin, reach in, and grab her heart! It's simple!"
Oswin had seen Rumple do it a million times to his victims, and he always felt bad for whoever that victim was.
"Come on, Oswin."
Oswin slicked back his hair and pulled his gloves and adjusted his jacket. Anything but reach for her heart.
"OSWIN!" Rumplestiltskin snapped angrily, and Oswin jumped.
"Like. This." Rumple shoved his hand into the girls chest and ripped out her heart. Oswin just stared at it. It was pure, with very little dark spots. The girl sputtered and gasped for air, and her face contorted with pain and confusion.
Rumple shoved it back in. "Now you try."
"This is a person. Not a practice dummy."
"Of course! Dummies don't have hearts!" he gave his signature snicker and motioned towards the girl who had slumped against the wall in fatigue and fear. She hadn't the energy to run away or fight. She just wanted food and water and warmth.
"If you don't grab that heart and crrrush it in threeee seconds, you're going to be short a magic teacher," he rolled his r's and waved his arms as if it were a dance.
Oswin put his hands down. "I won't do it."
"Hmph. Goodbye then." Rumple leaned over the peasant girl who was quivering against the wall. "As for you."
"You leave her unharmed. Understood?" Oswin placed himself firmly between the girl and Rumplestiltskin. Without a word, Rumple disappeared into a flurry of smoke, snow, and rain.
"Let me help you up," Oswin stuck out his arm and the girl covered her chest with her hands, scared that her heart would come out again.
Oswin smiled, "I'm done with him, now. It's been almost two years of taking his lessons. I was good before, and I'm even better now. I don't need to be ruthless and cruel to do magic."
He was mostly saying that to reassure himself, but it made the girl feel better as well.
"I'm Oswin," he introduced, seeing that she was still crouched against the wall. "And you are?"
She shook her head and changed positions, now sitting forward rather than sideways to the wall.
"Are you hurt?"
Rumplestiltskin had managed to twist her ankle when she tipped over from her crouching position. Everytime she fell over that was simply more torture. It was bad enough being homeless, poor, hungry, thirsty, mangy, and unwanted, but add significant amounts of pain to that and the peasant girl was absolutely miserable.
Oswin gently moved his way in front of her and assured her, "I know I was with Rumplestiltskin, but my parents needed me to learn magic from the best. You can bet they paid a hefty price for that. That doesn't mean I had to comply with his morals though. That's why I quit. That's why I didn't take your heart. Now rather than bullying you, I want to help you. Please let me. What's your name?"
In the rain and the sleet and terrible weather, she raised her head to look Oswin in the eyes.
He was the first person she ever met that wasn't condescending when he offered her help. It was genuine. She saw it in his face that was now dripping with rain. She heard it in his voice.
And she felt it in the way his eyes held her gaze. She nodded almost unnoticably.
But he offered his arm once more and this time she compliantly wobbled her way to her feet with his assistance, and whispered, "Alexandra."
Oswin gave an encouraging smile and they went on their way.
Rumplestiltskin fumed as he walked away from Oswin that day. One of his goals had been to teach Oswin to be brave, relentless, dauntless.
And Oswin had learned well.
Oswin had stood up to the one thing that Rumplestiltskin was afraid of.
Rumplestiltskin himself.
And now there was nobody to help him cast that curse.
All for the sake of that blasted peasant girl.
Alexandra was taken with Oswin. There was something enchanting about him, and not just his impressive magic. She didn't have to talk to him, much. He did most of the talking himself. Which was unusual in a man. But she didn't mind at all. She hated talking to people first, which was probably why she was such a lousy beggar.
"What's that on your finger?" Oswin asked, peering curiously at the small green ring that she had been covering the whole time.
Alexandra blushed again, realizing how dumb it must have looked to see such a poor girl with such a fancy ring.
"It's a family heirloom," her tiny voice squeaked out, nervous at what he might think.
He shrugged. "So what's your story, Alexandra. How did you end up on the streets?"
"I didn't end up. I always was," she whispered, and looked down at the ground.
"Hey, now, don't be upset about that. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's a life circumstance. Was it because of something you did? Or your family did?"
"We were all homeless and poor. They died of illness and I was alone. I deserved it," she whispered. The only sound in the room was the cracking of the fire and their steady breathing. Everything Alexandra said was as if she was telling her greatest secret.
"I am so, so sorry," Oswin still held her gaze. "Life has a way of putting us into circumstances we have no control over. We must either overcome them, learn from them, or we succumb to whatever darkness that they may have held over us. But don't let that make you believe that you aren't worth anything. You're worth everything, Alexandra."
Tears welled up in her eyes and she ripped her hand out of his. He was right. And it killed her. "What do you know!?"
He backed away from her and paced around the room. "I stood up to the Dark One today. It may not sound like much, but for two years I was under his guidance and control. He's the most feared creature in this world. He may have it out for my life right now, but I'm glad I did the right thing. But not only was I standing up to him, I was also standing up to my family who paid the price of never seeing me again in order for me to learn magic."
Alexandra instantly regretted snapping at Oswin.
"You and me, we're both alone in the world now. How about we stick together? I can take you anywhere you want to go in this world. We'll build up your health, and you won't have to live like that anymore."
As much as she wanted that, she just couldn't trust him: this apprentice of the Dark One.
"Things can't just change for me." She looked into the fire, trying to avoid his intense stare.
"Who says they can't change?! Give me one good example and I'll let you off the hook."
She smirked, knowing that he was right. There was no written rule book about this sort of thing.
"Alright."
His face lit up and he almost hugged her, but didn't.
She smiled bashfully, staring at her wounded ankle.
What a way to meet your true love.
What neither of them knew was that Rumplestiltskin was in pursuit of them. While he had found new students (or student, as one of them didn't work out), Oswin had still wronged Rumplestiltskin, and so had the peasant girl. Rumple knew they were traveling, and they had to be stopped. He couldn't chance leaving one of his students around to potentially harm him one day.
Oswin was taking Aly to the beach for the first time. They sat on the shore watching the waves and she rested her head on his shoulder. They had grown quite fond of one another in their travels.
"It's so peaceful," she sighed and watched the waves lap onto the shore.
"Well, well, well…" Rumple's shrill, maniacal voice chimed in.
"Rumplestiltskin!" Oswin breathed and shifted himself protectively in front of Aly.
"Get us out of here," Aly whispered. "Use magic."
Oswin tried, her waved his arms and did the usual thing, but Rumplestiltskin was still smirking in front of them. "Woops. Did I do that?"
"You're blocking my magic!"
Rumple laughed. "Good observation, laddie! Now whom should I kill first? The problem or the reason for the problem."
"Now, Rumple," Oswin gulped. "It doesn't have to come to this."
Alexandra twisted her fingers nervously. And eventually her fingers fell on the ring. She was wringing her hands and twisting the ring while Oswin held onto her wrist in case they needed to bolt.
Rumple began to torture Oswin, choking him right in front of Aly, and Aly spun the ring faster and faster around her hand until suddenly it was spinning on its own, and off Aly's finger. In a flurry, Oswin crumpled over and the world soared around them. Alexandra clung to him for dear life as they spun into what seemed like another world entirely.
When she opened her eyes, the color green was everywhere. Green buildings, off-green sky, the paths were a bright green, almost yellow color, and people were staring at them.
"Oswin!" Alexandra shook him and he didn't respond. He was unconscious. Or dead. And Aly was panicking.
"Oswin! Wake up! Please!"
Oswin groggily opened his eyes and began to sit up, looking curiously at the world around them.
Aly threw her arms around him, "I was scared. I thought maybe you had…."
"Me? Nahhh. So where are we?"
"I haven't the slightest."
They got to their feet, and suddenly Aly gasped. "My ring! It's gone!"
"It must have flown off when it took us wherever it has taken us." He stopped a pedestrian on the street to ask where he was.
"Why, you're in The Emerald City!"
Oswin and Aly met each other's gazes, then looked back at the pedestrian. "In Oz?"
"How hard did you fall, mate?" The man chuckled and walked away.
Oswin and Aly reached for the others hand and interlocked fingers as Oswin tried to use magic to relocate himself. He only ended up on the stairs of the political building of the Emerald City. Each time he tried to go elsewhere, they just ended up in different spots of the city.
Oswin finally sighed, "Aly?"
She looked up at him, and he solemnly gazed up at the tall, incredible buildings, "I think we're stuck in Oz."
It wasn't long before they adapted to the easy lifestyle that The Emerald City allowed them to have.
Or at least they thought it was going to be easy.
Soon, terrible news of their wizard, the "fearless" leader who was in charge of Oz, had been taken captive by a woman named Zelena. While Zelena had it out for her sister and Rumplestiltskin, she also was quite fond of ruling over the Emerald City. The people were so gullible and easily manipulated, or so she had noticed. She would give them a few days to panic, and then swoop in as a majestical hero.
Except she didn't anticipate Oswin Yorke to be nominated and selected as the new Wizard of Oz. Much less him succeeding.
You see, Oswin had been able to get his nose into a great number of affairs due to his use of magic. Most people in Oz lacked magical ability. Those that did have it, didn't know how to use it. So, when people found out about Oswin's abilities, well, you can imagine he was one of the most popular people in town.
It was the mayor of a neighboring city, whom Oswin had helped with a mature responsibility and kind manor that suggested that someone with magic take over the position of "Wizard." That someone being Oswin.
Aly opposed. Not out loud, just to herself. She didn't want to limit Oswin, but she didn't want to lose him either. If he moved into the Emerald City's palace, there was a chance he couldn't, or wouldn't, take her with him. And the last thing she wanted was to be away from the only person who had ever shown her kindness.
Decisions had to be made that day. And Oswin reluctantly agreed as Aly watched from the crowd with tears in her eyes. A miniscule sort of acceptance speech happened on the palace steps, and when he finished, he turned to face the palace doors. He was alone. Aly had long since given up on trying to wind up with him, given up trying to show how much she cared. She left the crowd, hurrying out the back and weaving her way through the people.
But Oswin didn't want to be alone. He wanted Aly there with him. He spun back around and searched the crowd frantically.
"Alexandra!" He hollered. "Aly! Please come here."
She stopped in her tracks, heart practically leaping out of her chest at his voice calling her name.
"I have a question for you, Aly."
The crowds parted and made way for Aly to walk back through, who was blushing and apologizing for causing problems, until finally she made her way next to Oswin. He took both of her hands in his, and began to talk in a low voice.
"I was saving this for a different occasion, but I think you need to know now more than ever."
Oswin knelt down on one knee and the crowd Ooo'd and Aw'd. As for Aly, she broke down in tears.
Oswin held back emotions of his own as he revealed Aly's lost green ring from his coat pocket.
"My ring," she sobbed a little and Oswin broke out into a grin.
"I know there's going to be so many challenges ahead of us with me in this position. But we've faced challenges together before, Aly. And there is nobody in this whole messed up universe I'd rather spend my life facing challenges with. It's absolutely your decision, though. So, Alexandra Eleanor Clark, will you marry me?"
She nodded through tears and swells of emotions, "Yes. Of course I'll marry you."
He slipped the ring on the opposite hand of what she usually wore it on, then stood up to hug her close, and kiss her. And for those five minutes the two of them were in complete and utter bliss.
And everyone waved as Oswin and Alexandra walked inside of the Emerald City palace. Together.
Alexandra was carrying the next royal was pregnant, happy and healthy.
Gifts showered the happy couple. The Emerald City had never been more alive.
But the Wicked Witch was watching. She was always watching, and she had genuinely expected Oswin to fail all those times so long ago. The fact that Oswin had basically done the polar opposite was not comforting to Zelena, and she had to put a stop to it.
Aly and Oswin sat in their study, reading books and the newspaper and talking lightly about baby names. This didn't last long, because Zelena popped right in above Oswin's chair. "I read that article this morning. Not important."
Oswin jumped and turned around to see Zelena waving at him with a sickening smile on her face.
"Did you think you could just avoid the fact that you were taking over my town? My world? The Emerald City and the land of Oz has always been mine. And it always will be."
"We're here now…. W-we don't need you here anymore," Oswin declared, stammering a little bit.
"Oh, really? Guess I'll just leave then." She turned to walk away, and then in an instant was inches away from Oswin's face.
"THIS CITY IS MINE!"
"Is it now?" Oswin created a ball of fire in his hand and poised to strike at Zelena's face. While never had he met her before, he knew exactly who she was. "You can't hurt Aly or myself. Our positions are protected by the Emerald City Pact. It's magic. If you kill us, you automatically die yourself. There's no way you could gain control over this city by harming us."
"Oh, I'm well of that Mr. Wizard."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because while you may be protected by the pact, you're child is not. And the pact cannot be rewritten. Or added onto. At least not anymore." Zelena got a satisfied grin on her face while Oswin looked shocked. "You see, the Wizard was never supposed to have a wife. Let alone a child. Or a family. The Wizard is not a family oriented position. The pact protects you, barely protects your beloved wife, and says not a word about your baby."
Oswin's eyes grew wide. "Y-You can't!"
"You see, I was thinking. There's nobody else in this city that can use magic. It's you and me. If you have a child, someone else will have magic and an heir to the Wizardship and I can't let that happen. You and Aly will die of natural causes eventually. And I'm practically immortal after stealing one of the Dark One's potions. So I figured it's in my best interest to make it impossible for you to have any child whatsoever."
Aly whimpered and Oswin grabbed her hand.
"On this day, I curse you. You're first born shall not live, no matter what you try to do to counteract my spell. Any child after this that you may conceive will survive birth, only to die when it is born."
Zelena waved her hand, and Aly's face couldn't not have been more obvious. Something inside her had changed and she felt it.
"No!" Aly cried and tried to stand, but whatever Zelena had done had made her weak in that instant.
"You heartless, hate-filled, monstrous, wicked… WITCH." Oswin fumed and balled up fire in his hand and hurled it at Zelena. It hit her just before she vanished in a cloud of smoke.
When she disappeared, he ran over to Aly and placed a hand on her stomach, while Aly wasn't that far along, it was still showing the tiniest bit. Oswin did his best not to cry.
Aly on the other hand, began to scream, clutching at her stomach. "HOW COULD SHE DO THIS!?"
Oswin wrapped Aly in his strong embrace and held her there as she sobbed. He stroked her head and clutched her tight. Because if he couldn't have a child of his own, at least he had his true love.
2 years later, a munchkin family presented themselves in front of Oswin during the town complain day. Nobody had ever taken a child in front of the Wizard. After it was heard that the Wizard and his wife lost their baby, people never came to them with issues concerning their children. They took them to orphanages or child care centers out of respect for the emotions of their beloved leader.
Except for this munchkin family. Perhaps that was why Aly was so taken with the small, dark hair, bright-eyed child who looked so miserable. Perhaps it was that Aly couldn't help her own child that she wanted to help this one.
When Aly asked Oswin if they could take Essie in that day, Oswin painfully remembered that night that Aly and he had mourned for the loss of their baby for hours upon hours.
He knew that Essie needed them.
And he knew that they needed Essie.