Grey Areas - A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-One: Checks and Balances

"Some people don't deserve forgiveness." Belle retorted and Henry nodded in agreement.

"I would think the," –Mim cringed– "boy with the," –she cringed again– "Heart of the Truest Believer would be more capable of forgiveness than the rest." –silence was the response, except for Zelena's stifled snickers– "Isaac," –he looks at Mim– "you spent your entire life trying to make something of yourself. To be recognized," –Isaac grimaced– "and then to be set up with the greatest writing opportunity of all time, and you couldn't tell a soul."

"So?" Belle snapped, Henry crossed his arms.

"For a long time, you were alone." Mim continued, ignoring the outburst. "Recording peoples' lives and stores and they didn't even know," –suddenly, Belle was unable to speak and Zelena unable to laugh– "and, to cope with the situation, everyone became a character, because, if you thought of them as people, you would constantly be reminded of your loneliness caused by your isolation." –Isaac shook his head– "An isolation you were never warned about and never wanted to behind with," –Mim eyed Belle– "just like you, for twenty-eight years." –Belle flinched– "What can solitary confinement do to a person? What did YOU do to cope?"

"ENOUGH!" Belle shouted and Will got between her and Mim. "What are you doing?"

"Right now?" Will replied. "Stopping you from getting yourself hurt."

"I suggest," –Belle jumped and turned around to see Mim standing directly behind her– "listening, not only to him, but your own heart. Or is it tired from the many times it forgave Rumpelstiltskin."

"Isaac," –she reappeared in front of him– "you are not the only one to blame for your actions. Merlin and his Apprentice sent you on this path." –Elsa appeared in a puff of blue smoke– "Keeping you in isolation warped your psyche, causing you to be pushing into taking the next step: character manipulation." –Isaac glared at her– "Yes, I am going somewhere with this." –Maleficent and Lily snickered in unison– "Merlin and the Apprentice drive you to that point and, instead of rectifying their mistake, seeing the route cause and bringing you back out into the world, they isolate you some more by locking you in the book." –Mim held his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her– "It's not your fault." –Isaac took a deep breath– "And I intend to give you another chance." –she looked at Henry, whose stern demeanor had dissipated by that point– "You two will work together. You will do that writing," –Henry nodded as Mim turned back to Isaac– "and you shall be in charge of the library's grand reopening." –Isaac began to wheeze– "You will be at the center." –he backed away– "You shall rejoin society." –he collapsed– "You shall be the one to allow knowledge back into the world."

Isaac burst into tears. Mim held him as he sobbed. Henry sat beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"There must be a catch." Zelena blurted out, finding she was suddenly capable of speech.

"I believe I have proven to be a decent boss."

"Hey, uh..." –Mim looked at Henry– "I'm sorry."

"I know." Mim stated, smiling as she took his hand. "I also know you had good reason to break the quill." –the two halves appear between them– "If I was to remove the ability to manipulate, would you consider being the Historian?"

"I'd be honored."

The two halves combined. But the second it became whole, a duplicate materialized beside it. One hovered in front of Henry, the other Isaac, who finished sobbing upon seeing it.

"Both of you, rise." –they stood next to each other– "Today, in front of these witness, I make these changes. Once upon a time, the staff in the library was grand, allowing your predecessors time to write. With the library having been closed for over a century, we shall to split the job. Instead of an Author, it shall return to Keeper," –her eyes fell on Isaac–"but there shall be an addition," –her eyes fell on Henry– "Historian." –to Isaac– "Because of your past deeds, the only writing the others will trust you with would be anything library related. No more recording of history and stories besides your own in a journal."

"Understood."

"Now, Henry, you may not fully trust Isaac, yet, but that does not mean do not look for him for guidance." –Henry nodded– "This shall be a checks and balances, of sorts. Help each other. Guide each other." –to Isaac– "Not everyone gets a second chance. And not nearly enough people are given the opportunity to atone." –the quills begin to glow grey– "Henry and Isaac," –they stand up a little straighter– "you are about to become a part of history. Not only are you in charge of making sure it is recorded, but also of its preservation. This library and the knowledge it contains has been guarded by my family from the time of its founding. I am trusting you," –she eyed the witnesses– "ALL of you." –she returned her attention to the Keeper and Historian– "Are you ready and willing to lead in the preservation and spread of knowledge?"

"Yes."

"Welcome to the family." Mim stated, smiling warmly and the two of them accept their quills.