I really need to put up these sort of reminders to post more of the finished chapters each day or I'll never be done with it...
Present Time
Storybrooke, Maine
Due to that Granny's Bed & Breakfast was a small place suddenly finding itself crowded with people who needed somewhere to sleep, the group of nine transported there last had to do with three rooms. Needless to say few of them got any sleep that night and thus when they met up in the morning in the same room they had used the day before (which during the night had been occupied by Filipi, Jade and Miranda) they all yawned and most of them had bloodshot eyes. Outside there was a fine layer of snow covering the ground; the temperature must have dropped during the night.
"Seems like the Witch has an advantage on us already", Wolfgang said and slumped back against the wall.
"What is it that we're going to do today, exactly?" Toby asked.
"Search for the wands", Chris answered.
"Figure out who the Wicked Witch is", Filipi filled in.
"Sleep", Jade grunted, her voice barely audible due to that her face was buried in a pillow.
"We have to split up, Toby", Indira said, noticing her friend's expression.
"I don't see why we should get involved in all of this when we don't even know what's going on", Toby responded. "Is it not better to let those with more knowledge of it all head out on these missions?"
"We also need to figure out where the rest of our friends are", Rachel said. "Considering that we appeared out of nowhere they should have done the same, meaning people should have seen them appearing. However, no one seems to know anything about their whereabouts."
Before anyone could respond to this statement a knock sounded on the door. Upon opening it their visitor was revealed to be Robin Hood.
"What are you doing here?" Chris asked.
"Well, as you mentioned yesterday you need to find your wands in order to be able to fight the Wicked Witch", the man said, smiling. "I am here to offer you my assistance, as a thank you for helping me last night."
Surprised glances were exchanged all through the room before Jade suddenly jumped off the bed.
"Finally something to do."
"I thought you said you wanted to sleep", Miranda said.
"If it's either sleep or going on an adventure with Robin Hood, I'll pick the latter option any day", Jade answered with a grin.
"Well, then I'm coming too", Chris said. "After all, we Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders."
"Hey, don't say that like you're the only one in this room!" Tessa exclaimed.
"Why don't you come along, then?" Chris said, grinning. Tessa gaped at him for a few moments before she groaned and rose.
"Fine. Fili, are you coming as well?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world", the Finnish girl answered. Robin looked amused.
"Anyone else?" Jade asked.
"No, I think that would be very troublesome for Robin", Rachel chuckled. "Go, find our wands and bring them back here."
"Yes ma'am", Chris said and saluted. Rachel rolled her eyes at him as the quartet plus Robin walked out of the room, leaving a much smaller group behind.
"And apparently I am not allowed to have a say in this matter", Toby muttered.
"Just because of that I wrote something a couple of years back where splitting up was the worst idea we could have ever had it does not mean it's going to be like that now", Rachel responded.
"Besides, walking around in a group of nine people is certainly going to attract a lot more attention than a smaller group of three, four or five", Indira filled in. Another knock on the door, but this time their guest let himself in; Hook.
"Time to get going, mates", he said, flashing a grin.
"Where?" Toby asked, sounding suspicious.
"Well, we need a strategy for finding the Wicked Witch, don't we?" Hook answered. "We're off to the Charmings right away and they requested you be there too, since you're involved in the search as well after what happened last night."
"Hear that, Toby?" Wolfgang said with a grin. "People want us to help. Now that's a sign we can't just sit around in here all day."
He rose and looked expectantly at Indira, who got up as well.
"Looks like the Gryffindors are on the case again", Wolfgang said with a grin. Hook's eyes stuck on Rachel.
"Not you today, love?" he asked.
"No, I'm staying here", she responded. "I should probably take it easy."
"And you two won't be coming, either?" Indira asked, looking at Miranda and Toby. The two of them both shook their heads.
"I guess we Ravenclaws are better off staying behind", Miranda said with a smile. "Just... try to keep in touch this time around."
"If we find a way to do that, we will", Indira promised. They walked out, Hook grinning at them one more time before closing the door. Once they were gone Rachel let out a deep sigh.
"If he calls me 'love' one more time I swear I'm going to punch him."
Accompanied by Hook and Emma, Wolfgang and Indira made it to the apartment belonging to Mary Margaret and David Nolan, aka Snow White and Prince Charming. The inside of their living quarters was not quite what they had expected; brick walls covered in either white paint or graffiti, old, mismatching furniture and wooden pillars going from the floor to the ceiling. It had an open room layout with no walls or doors and, as it lay at the top of the house, it had the advantage of a sleeping loft, which did not seem to be used as the couple's bed was placed behind the staircase leading up to said loft instead. At the moment the rest of the crew set on solving this mystery had gathered around the kitchen island, Mary Margaret being the only one sitting down thanks to her predicament. Hook sauntered up and leaned against the counter while Emma, Wolfgang and Indira placed themselves wherever there was room around the island.
"So, now that we know who we're dealing with, how do we find this Wicked Witch?" David asked.
"Might I suggest we start by asking if anyone's seen a woman with green skin running around?" Hook responded, smiling sarcastically.
"We're cursed in Storybrooke", Regina Mills pointed out. "She'll look like anyone of us."
"Damn it", Wolfgang muttered.
"We should start somewhere where we know she's been; Regina's office", Emma said.
"I went over it with a fine toothcomb; she left no trace", Regina argued.
"You were looking for magic; maybe there's physical evidence that you missed", Emma responded.
"Good idea; we'll track her", David agreed.
"If you want to waste your time playing Nancy Drew be my guest, but we can't let Henry wander around alone with that witch and her flying monkeys out there", Regina pointed out.
"Who's Henry?" Indira asked. Everyone around her, with the exception of Wolfgang, who was equally as clueless as she was, seemed to tense up.
"It's a complicated story, love", Hook eventually answered. "But he should probably not be running around out there as one of those monkeys could turn out to be his father."
Mary Margaret looked like she wanted to slap the pirate hard across his face.
"Point being", Regina said, "someone needs to protect Henry. He doesn't even know what's going on."
"I'm guessing you're volunteering?" Emma asked. Regina gave a hint of a nod and moved to leave.
"If you find anything, call me."
"Just remember; he thinks we're here because I'm on a case", Emma said, blocking her way. Regina smiled slightly.
"Well, look who's gotten good at lying."
"Just... as far as Henry knows, you're Madame Mayor, and that's it", Emma said. She was fidgeting with a knitted hat.
"I'm well aware of how Henry sees me", Regina answered, her voice sharp. Emma nodded and moved aside, allowing Regina to leave.
"Time's wasting", Hook said after the Mayor had left. "There's something wicked in your town; what do you say we go and find it?"