"No. Absolutely not." Regina folded her arms across her chest in defiance.
Killian looked at Emma for any form of assistance. With a sigh she leaned forward and reached out to Regina.
"I know you and your sister are a little at odds right now-"
"A little?" Regina scoffed.
"If we're going to find out who messed with Killian's memories, we have no choice but go to the past," Emma finish gently.
Regina nodded but gave a shrug. "And you remember what Zelena had to do in order to open the time portal?"
Killian leaned forward now. "There must be a way to alter the spell. Similar ingredients, maybe? And you're forgetting she was working against us. It's not as though we're going to steal a baby."
"To be fair," Snow White added, "she didn't try to kill anyone for the spell. We can get the ingredients together no problem."
Elizabeth watched in silence as the group before her made plans to travel back in time. They had gathered in the mayor's office, a stark and strangely decorated room. It seemed easy enough, the time travel, with everyone willing to give some part of the spell. It did not surprise her that these people would come together and make a plan so quickly. What surprised her was said next.
"Once we're there, we need a plan," David said, to which everyone nodded their head.
Elizabeth spoke up at this. "You all plan to go through the portal?"
The group looked at her as though she has grown another head.
Snow shrugged with a soft smile. "Well, obviously. We need to find out who changed Hook's memories, and who took you from your time."
"But...why? Why all of you?"
"This family does things together," David answered with a matter-of-fact tone.
"We're always stronger together," Snow added, now beaming.
When Elizabeth turned to her, Emma raised her hands slightly. "Yes, they're always corny like this, but they're right. We've come up against some pretty high odds and we've always come out on top."
She nodded and looked around the room, trying to ignore the eyes on her. "And to get back?"
"I'll be able to open a portal back to Storybrook," Regina added and stood from her chair. "Now if you'll excuse me, I suppose I should pay my sister a visit."
Elizabeth couldn't help but shudder slightly when the mayor vanished in a whirl of purple smoke. She watched as each of the others stood, announcing their own part of the plan and left until only she and Killian remained. She dared herself to look at him and was grateful to see he wasn't looking at her. Instead he stared at the table, his eyes searching the grain of the wood.
After a moment she cleared her throat and stood. "I suppose I'll be summoned when it's time. I don't have much to offer in regards to the spell."
"I've been thinking," Killian said, as though he hadn't heard what Elizabeth had spoken. "The Dark One wants your heart. So I assumed he was the one behind this. But he was simply Rumpelstiltskin then. Just a man. Which begs the question...how does he know of you? There must be something about you that he senses."
She nodded and stepped around the table. She had already considered it, but came to the same conclusion. Of course, there was no answer. Yet. "He mentioned something about my fate, how I have strings of fate tied to me that don't belong to me. Perhaps with my heart he gains access to that? I'm afraid I'm not sure how magic works. Henry believes those strands are linked to you. I'm not sure if it's true or what that would mean." When he looked up at her finally she waved her hand.
"Don't. I know you've found your true love. The rarest of magic, despite everyone in this town having found theirs. I'm not your true love but somehow we are still connected. Maybe it's a lack of closure, but there must be more if the Dark One has an interest in it."
"Then perhaps another Dark One can answer the question," Killian suggested. "If we're going back in time, we may as well ask the previous Dark One."
She shook her head and turned to leave. "Absolutely not."
"It's our best option, Elizabeth," he offered, getting up from the table and following after her.
"And you lost a hand when you confronted the Dark One. I won't be part of it."
He took a quick step to stand in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. "And I'd lose it again for love."
Elizabeth looked up at him and walked around him. She stopped when she approached the door, her hand on the knob. "I know you don't remember, but there was a time in your life when love didn't mean having to lose anything. It gained you everything. And when we speak with the previous Dark One, I hope you keep that in mind."
She closed the door behind her, knowing that despite having lived nearly two hundred years without her, Killian hadn't changed enough to come running after her. Elizabeth took a deep breath and started down the street. She had agreed to stay at Granny's in order to be closer to the rest of the band of heroes. What good she could do was beyond her. They apparently needed four symbols: love, innocence, courage, and wisdom. After dealing with the spell previously, everyone seemed to know what needed done. All Elizabeth had to do was wait. Perhaps the only preparation she needed to do was the one thing that was the hardest. Figuring out what to do with the answers they sought.
"Oh!" She was startled from her thoughts when someone stepped in front of her path. She smiled politely and went to move around the woman. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"No, it's okay." The young woman offered. "Neither was I." She paused. "You're...Elizabeth, right?"
Elizabeth stopped and took a quick glance around. She had made a point to not speak to many people in Storybrook. "Have we met?"
She laughed. "No, God, I'm sorry. No, I know Belle from the library. She was talking about helping you find your way back home. It must be strange for you to be here so suddenly. I'm Suzanna. Suzanna Bellemere."
"Pleasure to meet you." Elizabeth wondered at the rate of gossip in the town. At least that was similar to her home. "You're from Storybrook?"
"Well, the Enchanted Forest. I came over in the first curse. I've had time to adjust to this world. At least the time period is right for me." Suzanna smiled gently. "You're quite pretty," she said as an afterthought.
Elizabeth stepped around Suzanna then. "Thank you? I really should be going."
"I'm sorry, that was a strange thing to say. I have a habit of saying everything I think. It's just...nice to meet someone else who isn't a hero. Or a villain. Just a person." Suzanna smiled again and headed away, leaving Elizabeth to finish her walk.
'What a strange girl,' Elizabeth thought.
