Chapter 1- The Swan Necklace
Present Day: Storybrooke
…
The lake was like any other lake in Storybrooke; it was small, well-maintained by city ordinances and local volunteer trash collectors. Families which included small children and dogs came to gallivant around its borders, not noticing a single special aspect in the body of water. But a significant earth-shifting and magic-bounding from Storybrooke's last fairytale crisis had altered a few things, namely a water vein had opened itself up to allow the precious magic from the well with properties to restore what was lost to this particular city lake. Back in the Enchanted Forest it had the honor of a rather famous moniker…Swan Lake.
The mayor of Storybrooke, Regina Mills, would have eventually had the dwarves examine the storm water overflow but not for now. With the departure of her son too many things occupied the former Evil Queen's mind of yet to bother with a trickle of liquid that slowly made its way underground into the lake waterbed. Over the course of several peaceful months in Storybrooke, the water slowly trickled downhill to its destination.
Which was fortunate for one lost soul…
The swan glided gracefully downward, alighting onto the crystal clear lake waters with nary a splash. She had once been a magnificent specimen of her species; wings as white as snow, a long proud neck, a streak of gold on her noble head, and the beak that would flash in the sunlight. Now, she was a mere shell of her former self, with withered feathers and a head bowed under years of heartache and loneliness.
But all of that was about to change…
The ephemeral moonlight graciously stroked the surface of the lake and then it happened so unexpectedly: a bright blinding light…an arch of water…suddenly, the swan was no more.
A young woman broke the surface of the filthy pond water, throwing her head back in a graceful arch as only a swan could do. She gasped in air before sinking down into the water again. Even though the lake was only waist-high she struggled in the mud with both her arms and legs towards the shoreline, pulling herself up into the overgrowth of the willows and reeds surrounding the small lake.
Princess Odette of the Kingdom of Schwanense hugged her knees to her nearly naked body as best as she could, struggling to draw warmth to herself. The moonlit winds slowly reflected onto her legs, her arms, her filthy blonde hair, and then finally her hands. She lifted them, seeing her human fingers for the first time in over 30 years. Tears made small rivulets on her face coursing down her soaked cheeks as she wept for sheer happiness. She was human again. She did not know how, she did not know why, but she was human.
But then a sickening thought came…where was she? This was obviously not her kingdom.
As the young woman breathed into her fingers, struggling to find warmth, the moon shifted its gossamer light off of a sign post near the lake shore, illuminating the letters just enough to be read from afar. Odette studied the strange etchings.
"Storybrooke?"
…
The graveyard shift was one of the few things about her job as sheriff of Storybrooke that Emma Swan truly loathed. In her nearly three decades of life, Emma Swan had had some unusual jobs and been required to do the strangest things, but nothing compared to the boredom of the once-a-week required graveyard shift in the sheriff's office. Since the defeat of the Black Fairy, life in Storybrooke had settled into its own semblance of normalcy for the past year. Obviously there came a fairytale crisis once in a while, but the last one had been a simple matter of fighting a literal Big Bad Wolf and that was months ago. Ultimately with the quiet times came the mundane requirements of a small-town sheriff which she had blissfully ignored during the times of fairytale crises. Her office paperwork had piled up of course and honestly, at this point all she wanted was to just use her magic to blast the dratted stuff to smithereens. She knew that, despite her mother's obvious wishes for a normal life, the Charmings were not destined that and she was almost itching for a new role to play. A new battle to fight and for her to be the Savior and to help others find their happy endings.
Truth be told, at this point she had come to accept it as a part of her and life, the battles fought, loves won and lost, and the curses to be broken. You learn to live in between the crises, as her pirate had once said to her. But now…was it strange that the crises and the winning of them were oddly fulfilling? That defeating villains and helping others find their happy endings made her feel amazing? Should she feel guilty for wanting to go back to being the Savior in addition to the Sheriff?
Wonder what Hook would say to that, she thought. Thinking of the lunch date he had planned for the two of them tomorrow afternoon, Emma smiled and tried to resume her focus on the tasks at hand. Just for the purpose of getting it done faster so she would have less to do tomorrow, and then more time to spend with her pirate husband!
From her office she called out to her fellow night-shifter. "Hey Dad, do you have the report from the Ursa family break in?"
Searching, David shuffled a few folders and papers around on his own very untidy desk while Emma held back a smirk. She was fairly certain at this point she got her level of cleanliness from her father, not her mother.
"Here it is." David held up a large file folder. "Another B&E." He heaved a sigh as he opened the file to study the report. "Honestly I wish that Goldie girl were to concentrate her efforts on more productive things."
"Like what, stealing cars? It certainly would make things more exciting around here."
David leaned backwards to look past the glass door of the main Sheriff office and fixed a critical eye on his oldest, "Very funny." He obviously did not share her sentiments.
Emma shrugged and glanced towards her office window to the full moon shining outside. A lone wolf howl resounded and she smiled as she thought about the wolf residents of Storybrooke; undoubtedly Rayne the wolf-girl or one of the werewolves was out and about this evening. Glad those guys are not dangerous, the full moon always makes people here a little on edge. Indeed, as she glanced up at the moon she herself felt …a stir, an awakening. She studied the white face further. Strange, she thought. I feel as if I am meant to be somewhere or help someone. Be a Savior again. She frowned as she tried to mull it over in her mind. After a moment where no clarifications came she shrugged and tried to turn back to the boring paperwork. Wonder what that could have been?
"Emma? Are you alright?"
The sheriff glanced up again, this time towards her father. He was looking at her with a sweet concerned expression on his face. "Yeah I'm fine Dad," she quickly reassured him.
Charming's forehead creased as the studied his little girl further. "You look a little distracted; is there anything wrong?"
She swiftly shook her head, wanting to reassure him that her feelings of unease were not worrisome. "No, really, I'm fine. I was just thinking."
Charming sat up straighter, his full attention on his daughter. "About what?"
"Just how…quiet things have been lately. And how…it's been kind of nice I guess," Emma did not like to lie to her Dad but she felt that a little white lie would not hurt. Her parents really seemed to enjoy the quiet life that Storybrooke had to offer and she did not want them to think she was feeling less than satisfied by it.
Charming hid a frown. He could tell that she was holding something back but he knew that he should not push her. Clearly something else was on her mind but she felt like she needed to keep it to herself for now. No, the best thing for his baby girl was to just wait and make sure she knew that he was here for her if she ever wanted to talk.
"Alright. Well I'm here if you need me."
Emma smiled sincerely. "Thanks Dad."
…
It was brightly lit inside the homeless shelter, with high-beamed ceiling, perfectly clean tiled floors, and colorfully wall-papered surroundings. The usual soup kitchen furniture consisting of long rows of portable tables and chairs were scattered about. A large, curtained opening with a shelf for holding trays led to the kitchen but nothing was being served yet, the wee hours of the breakfast venue were just beginning. A group of twenty or so vagabonds from various fairytales milled around and conversed in low tones, waiting patiently.
All eyes of the hungry occupants turned when the curtains of the kitchen window were thrown open.
"Breakfast is ready!"
There was not a rush to the call, more of an orderly shuffle as if everyone understood their place in the pecking order, and no one was in a hurry to jump into the queue. The soup kitchen had been in business since the first curse and the woman who ran it was a well-known matron, intolerant of any such disorder. She was also legendary for her ability to run a full household.
"Come on you lot," the bulbous female called out, "I ran a house full of children and we all lived in a giant's shoe! I know you are all hungry, now don't be shy!"
This announcement seemed to put many of the tenants at ease, a line finally formed leading towards the kitchen window as everyone was served a hot breakfast. There was more smiling and laughing as the porridge, bread, and fruit slices were given generously to all.
The last one to be served was a young woman. She walked up to the counter shyly, fidgeting with her dirty hair and trying hard not to appear terrified. As she did to all of the newcomers to her soup kitchen, Mrs. Shoe made a quick assessment by studying the stranger. Late twenties-to-early thirties, very pretty face framed by tangled blonde hair and smudged with mud, wearing an assortment of unclean, too-large clothes that had clearly been liberated from a donation box in town, and smelling like pond water.
Probably another peasant girl she thought, not unkindly. Wish they would learn to use the modern plumbing of this world and bathe inside every once in a while.
Odette slowly shuffled up to where she had seen the other vagabonds being served a hot meal. She hesitated before confronting the woman behind the counter. What was the proper protocol in this land? Should she beg as she had seen so many do in other kingdoms? Her stomach growled loudly and she knew that, despite being a princess, at this point she was not above such things. Should she offer her services as a kitchen maid in exchange for a meal? Having not used her human hands to do simple tasks in a long time, she was fairly certain she would be less than useless in the kitchens. The food smelled so good and she was so hungry, Odette stood there dumbfounded for a second until the large woman behind the counter simply handed her a bowl, heaped with steaming porridge.
"Here you are my dear," the lady of the kitchen said with a smile.
Odette could not believe her luck, the bowl was in her hand and she had done nothing. Such generosity in this land! "Thank you, my lady. Thank you!" she stammered out.
Mrs. Shoe let out a hearty, belly laugh. "No need for that title my dear. I was only a simple peasant woman in our old land and in this world I do the best I can for all."
But Odette had already turned away and scooped at the food with her fingers, placing it into her mouth before she even sat down at the long table decked with disposable cutlery, plastic cups, and folded paper towels as napkins. Once seated, she continued to indulge in her first meal as a human in over 30 years, not bothering with utensils, until someone nearby coughed loudly and she glanced up.
Everyone was staring at her.
Odette deliberately chewed slower, swallowed what was left in her mouth, and wiped her lips using the sleeve of the oversized man's shirt she had purloined out of a dumpster near the park lake. I am a princess sitting amongst vagrants and here I am eating like an animal. She folded her hands neatly in her lap and ducked her head until the others finally got bored of staring at her and turned their attention to their own breakfasts.
Odette delicately plucked a spoon from the cups set up on the table and resumed her hurried eating, this time with the utensil. Just because I have been an animal for the last few decades is no excuse to start eating like one, she berated herself at her very unprincess-like behavior. Her thoughts became more rational as her stomach became filled and warmed. Besides, I have to make sure I am not recognized in case someone here is in league with…
A sudden lurch in her lungs caused a coughing fit which overwhelmed her next thoughts.
The kitchen matron quickly walked over. "Are you alright Miss?" Mrs. Shoe asked softly. She lightly touched Odette's shoulders, who flinched at the gentle touch.
"I, um…I am fine." Odette held her hand over her mouth, fighting to stop coughing. With her fingers on her lips she was able to feel the soft, feathery down before even seeing it. Shocked, she held both of her hands in front of her and saw white feathers beginning to grow between her fingers.
No! This can't be happening! I can't be turning back into…but a quick glance out the window confirmed her suspicions. The sun was coming up and the moonlight was receding. She could have cursed. "I have to go!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and shoving her hands into her huge sleeves to hide them. She could feel more feathers starting to sprout on her arms. "I am so sorry, but I must—" she turned and ran right into another kitchen patron, spilling the contents of his bowl down the front of his shirt. Enraged, the man let out a slew of oaths directed at the princess. She cowered away like an animal recoiling from a predator.
"What's wrong my dear?" the lady of the kitchen asked, as Odette frantically tried to shove her way to the exit. At this point, the whole of the homeless shelter occupants were watching the chaos, extremely interested.
"No, no, no! I have to get out of here," Odette stammered out as she shook her head and felt the sting of tears in her eyes. How could she have not thought of this? That she would turn back into a swan right in the middle of a crowd!
Bursting through the emergency exit, Odette rounded the side of the building, squeaking in terror at the sound of the fire alarm blaring inside. She wondered if the horrible shrilly noise was a call to arrest or restrain her. Best not to find out. Her bare feet slapped against the pavement before a sudden breeze scooped her up into the sky, hurling itself under her wings and almost causing her to collide with a telephone pole.
Anyone looking outside would have seen a white swan flapping its wings and struggling to rise higher and higher, only to dip down and head for the city park once again.
…
Captain Hook was always punctual and today was no exception. After completing his morning patrol as deputy, he greeted Emma at precisely 12:20 pm at the sheriff's station.
"Ready for a bite to eat love?"
Emma quickly closed the folder of that blasted paperwork. "Yes!" she pocketed her sheriff keys and stood up. "The rest of this paperwork junk can wait until after I get some food in me."
David chuckled from his seated position among the other sheriff station desks. "You certainly get cranky when you get hungry." Then he eyed his son-in-law with a critical glance. "Make sure you bring her back in a better mood and in one piece pirate."
Hook nodded his head. "I can assure you mate your daughter could not be in better hands." He held up his hook. "Metaphorically speaking of course."
"Really?" Emma was slightly mortified. Her father acting like a harsh, over-protective father as if she were a teenager and her own husband playing along with it! The station rang with laughter from the two men and then five minutes later the young couple was outside in the beautiful spring day.
Emma and Killian began their walk around the main city lake, sharing the events of the day. It was unbelievably normal and comforting. The two wandered around the shoreline for some time before settling comfortably on a park bench and opening the warm paper sacks from Granny's Diner.
"One grilled cheese with fried potato strips for you," Killian handed over the sack labeled 'Emma' with his right hand, "and one pickled herring and grapefruit for me," he opened the other sack expertly with his hook, releasing the heavy smell of fish.
Emma almost laughed. For all his time spent on land settled in Storybrooke, Killian continued to follow his strict 'scurvy' diet which included a health dosage of seafood and fruit every day, and then of course…
"Care for a drink love?" The ever-present flask came up and poured a generous amount of rum into Killian's plastic drinking cup.
Emma shook her head, smiling. "No thanks and I thought we agreed to lay off the stuff for a while?"
Hook threw up his hands in a mock-surrender gesture, not admitting defeat but rather teasing her. "And risk losing my positive pirate outlook on life? Not a chance in all of the seven seas Swan," he answered as he slurped down a healthy gulp of rum. "Besides, you know you'll never see that 'wish realm' version of me again!"
Emma could not help but smile as she studied her pirate carefully. How strange it was to be sitting here, as they had done many times in many places before, but there was not crisis at hand and no battle to fight. Ever since that odd incident last night, she had the sensation of feeling that she was supposed to be the Savior again and save someone, somewhere, but she did not know any specifics. What could it be?
"Everything alright love?"
Killian had broken Emma's musings. She let out a frustrated sigh and her eyes wandered, "Yeah I'm fine. It's just… I've had this funny feeling lately. Like I am supposed to help someone. I mean we have not had a 'fairytale' crisis in a long time and I was wondering—"
"That you need to be the Savior again?" Hook treaded the subject carefully. "Swan just because there has not been the need for you to save anyone lately does not make you any less a Savior." He leveled an eye at her. "You've defeated so many villains and saved this town from countless curses, there is no reason to feel like you must always be saving someone."
Emma smiled and was about to respond when the moment was interrupted by some honks coming from the direction of the lake. She turned and saw a swan that had been gliding peacefully alongside the shorelines was now being accosted by a group of teenage boys throwing stones and sticks at the creature. One of the missiles hit the bird's side and it let out a particularly loud honk. For some odd reason, the bird did not try to fly away but remained on the lake, protesting loudly with cries of indignation.
"Excuse me Killian," Emma quickly said. "I think I had better handle this." She stood up and walked towards the scene.
"Aye love," Killian said as he turned and took the sight in. "Duty calls."
Emma strode over with long, authoritative steps and clapped her hands while calling loudly to get the hooligans' attention. "Alright, knock it off!"
The teenagers paused in their assault to glance at her. They had the look of kids who were testing their limits by breaking as many laws as possible and it might have been sheer boredom that encouraged them to start their useless assault. She took advantage of the momentary surprise by calling out as she walked right up to them, "Clear off. That bird has done nothing to you, now leave it alone."
The tallest of the bunch, clearly the ring-leader, rounded on Emma with a look of bemusement. "What's the big deal sheriff? It's just a dumb ass bird—hasn't even got the sense to fly off. This lake is just a smelly eye-sore that should be demolished."
"Yeah? Well lucky for me it is still here and I get to protect it as the sheriff," Emma said, this time with a little more anger in her voice. "Now get out of here!"
The hoodlums all seemed bored by the exchange anyway, turning to their bicycles and pedaling off with a lot of hooting and hollering.
Emma glanced at the lake again. The swan was still there. Emma was not sure if swans could look sad, but this one certainly did with its head bowed and eyes clouded over. The sheriff did not have a degree in Veterinary Sciences, but she was fairly certain the bird was ill-spent with its bald spots, dirty feathers, and very thin appearance.
"Hey Killian," she called over her shoulder. "Would you mind bringing me your sandwich?"
"Aye love," he replied, coming over to where Emma stood at the edge of the lake. "Finally decided to try the pirate diet then?" he asked with his usual devilish-handsome grin.
Emma returned it with a smirk of her own as she took the sandwich. "Not really, I just want to get a closer look at that bird. I think it might be sick."
Despite Killian's protests, Emma broke the bread and fish mixture in two in her hands and unfolded a piece of fish that was not too covered in mustard, hoping it would be enticing for a swan.
She held out her hand and knelt down by the lake shore, "Come here girl". The swan seemed to glance in her direction then shift directions of paddling towards the Savior, but hesitated before coming too close.
"It's alright, I won't hurt you," Emma said in what she hoped was a soothing voice to the animal, "I just want to look and make sure you're alright."
The animal swam closer and closer, its long neck outstretched to snatch at the fish in Emma's hand but she held it at bay for just a moment longer. For some reason, she felt a pull to this creature. It may have been that her namesake was Swan and she had always felt a connection with the beautiful birds ever since she was a kid and had chosen the surname 'Swan'. Other than the occasional trip to zoos with her various foster families, this was the first time she had ever seen an actual swan up close and it was also the first time she had ever seen one in Storybrooke.
Kind of like how there were no crickets here until after Archie, er...Jiminy, and I had our little adventure, she thought. Perhaps she was reading too much into it, just like she was reading too much into her 'Savior' needs lately, but this creature seemed…different. She's brave I'll give her that.
Killian approached from behind, also eyeing the bird. "Well I do not see any physical injuries so I'd say your bird is not in bad shape Swan."
Emma nodded in agreement, but also smirked a little. Clearly Killian wanted to resume their earlier talk. Just as well, the distraction was over and she had just wanted to make sure the animal was not hurt after all. She was about to toss a piece of the fish and let the swan enjoy a much-needed snack when a glint of something metal caught her eyes. Whatever it was, it reflected the noon sunlight and flashed a bright glimmer right into her eyes so that it was hard to ignore. But only for a split second, and then it was gone as the swan turned its neck.
"Did you see that?"
"See what love?"
"I think it has something on its neck…a piece of metal or something."
At any rate, the bird had seemingly lost interest when it was clear Emma was not about to give up the food easily. It had turned and was paddling away, its long neck again bent in melancholy.
"Well it seems your friend is not interested in showing whatever it was to you so if you don't mind," he held out his one hand," I'd like my meal back please."
"Hang on." Emma stood up. "I want to get a closer look at this."
Killian rolled his head and eyes heavenly but followed Emma as she walked along the edge of the lake, hoping to entice the bird to come closer again, but had no luck. The swan swam in tighter and tighter circles, avoiding the edge of the lake as much as it could.
Emma heaved a sigh of frustration and finally stopped. Perhaps it had just been her imagination after all. At any rate, she had way over done her lunch hour. Probably was going to have to do some explaining to her dad when she got back to the station.
Killian had stayed by her side, watching the unusual exchange when a thought suddenly came to the pirate. This would be one of the oddest things his glass had been used for, but clearly this was important to his Swan…and he was not going to get his sandwich back anytime soon.
He reached into his black-leather jacket and pulled it out. "Try this love."
Emma smiled as she took the glass, "Having a pirate around sure does come in handy." She extended the glass and aimed it at the bird for a closer look. As it was built to, the eye piece magnified the white tail of the bird, its wings, the graceful neck, and then…
"Killian, I need you to look at something and tell me if you recognize it."
Perplexed, Captain Hook took back his lens and glanced into it, scanning the bird from head to tail. "What am I looking for...?" He paused as he took in the sight. "What the bloody hell?"
"Do you recognize it?"
"No love, but that is certainly not where I would expect a necklace to be."
Emma leaned closer to Killian, as if sharing the lens together. "Do you see what's on it?"
"Aye." Killian lowered his lens. "What can that mean?"
Emma studied the swan again, really taking her in. Strange, she thought, where did you find that?
…
"A heart-shaped gold necklace with the image of a swan carved onto it? Are you sure?"
Emma nodded firmly.
Her father shrugged his shoulders and handed back the drawing Emma had sketched hastily at the Sheriff station. "I don't think that is too extraordinary; someone could have lost it in the lake and it slipped onto the swan's neck accidently while it was hunting for food."
Emma shifted her hands to her hipbones, shaking her head. Oh uh, thought David. I know that posture. She is not going to let this one go.
"I don't know how to explain it Dad but something does not feel right." Emma reached onto the table and fingered her sheriff badge. "I mean…when was the last time anyone saw a swan in Storybrooke? And then there is this necklace and…I don't know it just feels like there is more to this."
"Okay, but are you sure you're not just seeking out a crisis when there might not be one?" David said as gently as possible. "I know you have missed the excitement of being Savior to everyone since the Black Fairy was defeated but there is nothing wrong with the quiet life you know."
Emma glared up at her father. "I am not…looking for trouble or anything. I just want to make sure things are…as they should be." She shared is stubborn look.
"Well what do you think we should do?"
Emma lifted and dropped her shoulders, admitting defeat. "I'm not sure honesty. I could be making a mountain out of a mole hill so I'd rather we not start a formal investigation, just some quiet inquires. See if anyone is missing this necklace."
At that moment, the door to the Sheriff's station opened and Snow White walked down the hall to join them. "Emma!" she exclaimed, quickly setting down her armful of books, notepaper, and lunch sacks on the kitchen table. "I didn't know you would be in the station at lunch today."
A quick glance told Emma that her mother had just come from a lunch break at school, with homework assignments to grade and a meal to share with her husband. "Hey Mom," she said as she enveloped herself into a quick hug.
Snow smiled at her daughter and then her husband, enormously pleased to see both. "Well this is a pleasant surprise," she said, beaming. "I thought you and Hook would be out doing rounds?"
"Hook is on afternoon patrol right now but I came back to the station because I wanted to get Dad's opinion on something."
"Oh really? What?"
For an answer, Emma scooped up the sketch she had made of the necklace and held it out to her mother, not really expecting anything, "This".
Snow's eyes landed on the drawing in Emma's hand, then a crease formed on her forehead and her expression became distressed. As if in a trance, she reached over and pulled the paper from Emma's fingers.
"Where…where did you find this?"
Emma was extremely startled and a bit worried at the expression on her mother's face. "It…it was around the neck of a swan in the city lake. Mom, what's wrong?"
Snow brought her hand to her mouth. "No, no that is not possible…I brought her to the palace…she said she would be fine…"
Now Emma was really confused. And apparently so was her dad. He approached his wife slowly from behind, glancing over her shoulder at the drawing that was causing his wife so much grief. "Snow," he asked gently. "Do you know who this necklace belongs to?"
Snow finally looked up, her expression haunted. "Yes," There was an immense look of trouble in her forest-green eyes, "and it's all my fault."