Long Lost | Once Upon a Time (EDITING)

XV. Quiet Minds

Present...

"So, now that we know who we are dealing with, how do we find this Wicked Witch?" David asked into the room, though no one had an immediate answer. The Blanchard apartment felt heavier than usual, like the air itself had absorbed the weight of their newest problem that was the Wicked Witch of the West.

Hook broke the silence with his trademark smirk. "Might I suggest we start by asking if anyone has seen a woman with green skin running around?"

Grace rolled her eyes so hard it nearly gave her a headache. "If it were that obvious, we would've caught her by now," she shot back. Hook only lifted a shoulder, as if to say 'worth a shot'.

Regina cut in dryly, "Not to mention we're cursed in Storybrooke. She'll look like any one of us."

Emma perked up with a hopeful expression. "Then we start somewhere we know she's been--Regina's office."

The mayor rolled her eyes at Emma's 'original' idea. "I've been over it with a fine-tooth comb. She left no trace."

Emma didn't back down. "But you were combing for magic," she pointed out. "Maybe there's physical evidence that you missed."

David nodded in support. "Good idea. We'll track her."

While everyone seemed to find this idea logical, Regina regarded them all like they'd suggested a group bake sale to solve a murder. "If you want to waste your time playing Nancy Drew, be my guest, but maybe we could focus on something that could be more useful--like figuring out whether or not Grace's memories were tampered with." Her sharp gaze snapped to the girl in question. "She could have answers locked away in her head. We just have to look."

Grace stiffened. "Could you not talk about me like I'm not in the room with you?" she snapped. "And besides, why would Zelena mess with my memories? I still remember how to take her magic--she didn't change that."

Regina folded her arms. "No, but you don't remember her weakness. Figure that out, and we'll know how to stop her."

Grace frowned. "What makes you think I even know her weakness?"

"The inconsistencies," Regina said, matter-of-fact. "Trust me, I've rewritten memories before. Look at Henry. He has no idea anything is missing. If Zelena did something similar to you, then your memories are still there. They're just buried, and before you ask, yes, it's fixable. Complicated, but fixable."

Snow stepped forward, her tone gentle. "Sweetheart, if Regina can undo whatever Zelena did, it might give us exactly what we need to protect everyone, including you."

David nodded beside her, eyes full of quiet determination. "You've been through enough already. This gives you some control back, and if Zelena came after you for a reason, we can't afford to ignore that," he let out. Their words got to the teen, though not that she'd ever admit that out loud.

Grace crossed her arms defensively. "I don't want her in my head. And if we find something I don't want to remember?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. This isn't about what you want--it's about keeping this town, and yourself, alive. She's targeting you. The longer we tiptoe around your feelings, the more power she has." Regina said coldly, but deep down, Grace knew she wasn't wrong.

However, that didn't stop her from shooting the woman a glare that could've sliced glass. "You know, for someone who claims to have changed, you're still terrible at pep talks."