A/N: Hello, this is my first Swan Queen fic so please be gentle! It may not be very good and is most definitely a ReginaxFemaleOC
I looked up at the sign, the memories of my old life rushing back to me. I mean being phoenix was fun and all but for the twenty years I was a messenger for that despicable Cora made my life now feel like hell, the three hundred and sixty seven years I had lived all ruined by those twenty years. One person, however, truly cared about me. Regina, Cora's beautiful daughter, used to sneak me food in exchange for stories of the outside world. Sometimes I would allow her to enter my mind and view the world from my eyes, taking her on tours of the forest. I sighed and shook my head, pushing the thoughts from my mind as I stepped into Storybrooke and made my way to the town. As I approached what must have been the docks I felt a magical field around a blurred area at the dock. I used my powers and lifted the concealment enchantment, revealing a ship I had only seen once in my lifetime and for me it was one to many a sighting.
"Killian." I muttered to myself, backing away from the pirates ship and trying to get a grasp on how much magic was in this land. I turned away from the vile ship and walked quickly away from the docks, hoping that the disgustingly hormonal pirate hadn't gotten to the savior before I had got there. Soon I reached a large library, a diner just across the road. Smiling as I realised who must be in there, I knocked on the door before opening it and walking inside. Just as I guessed, a young woman with beautifully long brown hair and a cute blue dress walked up to me with a brilliant smile.
"Sorry Miss, the library doesn't open until next week." Belle said with a smile, relief falling over me as I saw the happiness in her eyes. I laughed and played with my fingers as I looked around, trying to figure out what I was going to say.
"I didn't come in here for a book, Miss Belle." I said, making her smile and blush.
"So you're from the enchanted forest too?" She asked, smiling with a raised eyebrow. "I thought no-one could leave Storybrooke without losing their memory or even getting hurt?" She said, leaning on a counter where a coffee was placed. I nodded and laughed, remembering how I had never even been in Storybrooke.
"I never lived in Storybrooke, just wandering. I used to do that a lot in the other land too. Until I found a friend in a manor in the forest." I blushed as Belle laughed slightly, making me wonder if she had figured out who I was.
"Callie? Callie the phoenix?" She asked, making me smile and nod. She rushed forwards and pulled me into a strong hug, laughing at the strangeness of the situation. "Oh my god! I can't believe it!" She said, pulling away with a big smile on her pretty face. "I've missed you so much! Where the hell have you been?" She asked, pulling me to sit down at one of the tables. I laughed and pulled an iPad out of my bag, getting up pictures of my old home.
"I travelled to France, England, even Russia! Belle, the world here is so different! They have technology that can do the same things as magic! The tracking spell I used to use to find you took me a week to create! These humans, it took them a few minutes to make a small metallic box that can track anyone they put it onto!" Belle laughed and nodded before frowning.
"If you've been travelling for 28 years, how do you only look 19? Unless..." She gasped and grabbed my hand as I blushed. "You died, didn't you?" She said, frowning with tearful eyes.
"That's how I remembered everything. It was only 5 years ago, but instead of being a baby I was a 14 year old." I said, making Belle groan.
"Great, I'm older than a phoenix." She joked as the door opened. In walked... I shot up and rushed over to him, a big smile on my face as I wrapped him in a hug.
"Rumple!" I said, almost knocking him over with the force of my hug. He laughed slightly and hugged me softly back, smiling at Belle.
"Hello Calliope. I guess you've returned to find Belle, yes?" He said as I pulled away with a blush, making me look down in shame.
"Unfortunately not." I said, grabbing my bag and shoving the iPad into it. "I was told by an outward source that the saviour was in trouble and... I was paid to come help her." I said, turning to look apologetically at Belle. "I never thought I would find you, Belle. I was afraid Cora had killed you." Belle and Rumple frowned, Rumple stepping closer and placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Cora? Why would Cora try and kill Belle?" He asked, the grip on my shoulder tightening. I winced and pulled away, sighing.
"When I used to come to your manor to see Belle... I would come at noon and leave at 4. I... Since I was a hatchling, I have never been free. I was caught and sold, a messenger bird, a fighter bird... A caged bird. Twenty years before the curse, Cora bought me. She would let me out of my cage everyday to stretch my wings, to find food. One day, I found your manor. At first, I was terrified but then... I saw the love in your eyes. The love for Belle that was truly shared." Rumple glared at me, raising his hand and tightening it around my neck. I shook as Belle tried to persuade him to let go, trying to summon up enough power to get him off me. I let my neck flare up in heat, burning Rumple's hand and making him let go. "Rumple, I know you love Belle. I do to, she was and always will be my best friend. I would never hurt her, I never said anything about her to Cora. I swear on my magic, I never would have told that bitch anything." I said, rubbing my neck as Belle frowned at Rumple. Suddenly I felt a spike in the magical field, making me wince at the sound of it.
"Callie, what's wrong?" Belle asked, rushing over.
"How many magic users are there in Storybrooke?" I asked, the amount of magic making my head hurt.
"Me, Regina, Mother Superior, Emma and you." I looked up as I recognise the magic trace, terror on my pale face.
"Cora's here." I muttered, running out the door and starting to track Emma's magical trace. She was in the sheriff's office with two other people. I rushed in, seeing a man and woman, obviously a couple from how they were holding hands, talking to the savior. The group turned to me, Emma raising her eyebrow.
"Can I help you?" She asked, frowning slightly as the woman frowned at me. I was hit with another powerful wave of magic, making me wince and grow dizzy. The man rushed forwards, pulling me to sit down as Emma knelt in front of me. I looked into Emma's eyes and gasped at the amount of sorrow there.
"Cora." Was all I could say before passing out, Emma grabbing me before I could fall from the chair and onto the floor.
"What is the meaning of this, Miss Swan? Why would I want my mother anywhere near here when Henry is around?" I heard a voice say, immediately recognizing it as Regina's. I opened my eyes to find myself in a hospital bed, Emma stood at the end of the bed facing away from me and Regina stood a few steps in front of her. I gasped at how good Regina looked, making them turn to me.
"Heya kid, you feeling alright?" Emma asked, smiling at me softly. I nodded as I glanced at Regina. I looked underneath the covers to find my comfortable clothes replaced with an itchy hospital gown. I sat up, throwing the covers back and cracking my joints. Emma rushed to the side of the bed and tried to make me lay down, frowning as Regina stayed silent and stared at me. "Kid, lie down.l The nurses haven't figured out what happened to you yet. You've got a massive fever." She said, making me laugh.
"Well I'm always hot." I said, pushing her hand away and standing. "Did you find Cora?" I asked her, making her frown.
"I guess you're also from the other land. Anyway, no we haven't." I turned to Regina and smiled softly, blushing.
"I guess you don't remember me." I said, taking a step towards her. She frowned and looked me up and down, making me blush and lower my head in disappointment. I turned to Emma and smiled. Try looking at the docks. There is a concealed ship there, owned by a pirate named Killian." Emma frowned and anger flared up in her eyes. "I guess you two have met?" I said, backing off slightly as I felt a slight flare in her magic.
"Are you absolutely positive that it was him? Not just a fake ship for show?" I sighed and nodded as Mother Superior walked in, or as I knew her the Blue Fairy.
"It was definitely him. I have a photographic memory and I could never forget that bastard." I said, sitting down on the bed as the Blue Fairy smiled and stood in front of me .
"Hello, Miss. Unfortunately we cannot seem to find any records on you and need some information." I nodded as I swung my legs.
"Sure thing, Miss Blue." I said, making her smile slightly.
"Name?" I smiled.
"Which one? The name I had in the other land or the name I had here?" She smiled and thought for a moment.
"Both please. The one from here first, if you please." I smiled as Emma leaned on the bedside cabinet.
"Roseline Bird." I said, swinging my legs and pulling at the uncomfortable fabric of the hospital gown. "And in the Forest, I was known as Calliope." By the door I heard Regina gasp and turn, looking me dead in the eye with a confused stare.
"Calliope?" I nodded and stood slowly, walking to where she was stood dead still. "I thought Cora killed you?" I blushed and shook my head, sighing.
"She just caged me. I tried to get out, I really did, but she placed limitations on my magic." I said, restraining myself from throwing my arms around her in a tight hug. She suddenly laughed, throwing her arms around me and holding me tightly. I laughed also and wrapped my arms around her waist, placing my head on her shoulder. "I missed you, Gina." I said, burying my face in her neck.
"I'm sorry for interrupting such a cute reunion but Miss Calliope still needs to answer a few questions." The Blue Fairy said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded and pulled away, placing a quick kiss on Gina's cheek before sitting back on the bed.
"What else do you need to know, Blue?" I asked, swinging my legs.
"Species?" She asked, making Emma raise an eyebrow. Blue turned to Emma with a smile. "Humans weren't the only ones who got transported over here. Billy, for example, was a mouse named Gus. Living with Cinderella." She said, the new information making Emma groan slightly and put her head in her hands. I laughed as Blue turned back to me. "Which species were you, Miss Calliope?"
"Shadow phoenix." I said, making a small, black flame in my hand before distinguishing it. Emma quickly walked over to Regina, pulling her out the door and into a supply cupboard. I turned to Blue frowning slightly. "Are they together?" I asked with a jealous tone in my voice, making Blue blush and laugh.
"No, they just go in there to speak privately. Anyway, let's continue with the questions, yes?"
A few hours later, I was discharged from the hospital and Gina was walking me out to her car.
"I know that it's kind of... Rude but... Sorry, forget it." I said to Gina as we walked out the hospital, blushing slightly at the stupid idea.
"It couldn't be rude if you're asking it with such sincerity." Gina said, smiling as we reached her Mercedes. I blushed as she opened the passenger seat door for me, letting me slip in slowly. She quickly slid into the drivers seat, smiling as she looked at me and making me blush.
"I... I was wondering if you had a room I could stay in... Only until I get my own place!" I quickly said, looking down and playing with the zip on my bag. Gina laughed, starting up the car.
"Of course you can stay. You can have one of the guest rooms and don't worry about finding another place. After all you did for me, I can at least give you a place to stay." She said as we drove to her house, arriving after a few minutes of random chatter. As we got out the car, Gina was greeted by the young man I had seen with Emma at the Sherrif's office and a small boy with dark hair. The boy rushed towards Gina, hugging her tightly with a huge smile on his face. Gina hugged him back, smiling softly.
"Hi Mom." He said, burying his face in her stomach. I laughed softly, closing the car door and smirking at Gina. He turned to me, smiling. "Hi! I've never seen you round here before!" He said, making me smile as he held onto Gina.
"I just got here. I'm one of your mom's friends from a few years back." He frowned and looked me up and down, letting go of his Mom as the mam pulled her aside to speak to her.
"How old are you?" He asked, frowning slightly. I laughed, leaning against the hood of the car as I glanced over at Regina and the young man speaking.
"I'm 19 but I've known your mom for years." He smiled and pulled a book out of his bag.
"Did you know her when she was the queen?" He said, skipping to a page where a picture of Gina in one of her beautiful but dark dresses. I stared at the beautiful picture before sighing and turning back to the kid.
"No, I knew her before." He frowned and skipped to the beginning of the book. "What's your name, kid?" I asked, smiling at him as he searched through the book.
"I'm Henry. I can't find you anywhere in here, are you lying?" I laughed as he looked down at the page where Cora and Regina were sat in Cora's office, my cage in the corner. I pointed to the dark figure in the cage, my shadow phoenix form with my black feathers and flame orange eyes. Henry frowned and looked up at me with raised eyebrows. "You were Cora's pet phoenix?" I laughed and nodded, my eyes turning back to the orange colour like those in the picture.
"Unfortunately. Anyway, how old are you?" I asked, smiling at Gina's back as she spoke the man, who actually reminded me of someone.
"I'm 10. Anyway, how can you be 19? The curse has been here for 28 years." I laughed slightly as he put the book back in his bag.
"Do you know what happens when phoenixes die?" I asked, the only answer was him shaking his head. "Well we burst into flames and, from the ashes, we are born again. 5 years ago, I was born again but instead of being a baby, I was a 14 year old. I guess my magic knew I'd be useless to the curse if I was only 5." I laughed as Regina finished speaking to the stranger, walking over to us.
"How did you leave in the first place?" He asked as Gina walked back over, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I guess you two have acquainted yourselves. Henry, this is Miss Calliope. She'll be staying with us for a while." She looked down at Henry with a sad look. "If you don't want to stay tonight, you don't have to. You can to stay with Emma if you want." She said, twisting her mouth adorably like she always had done. Henry smiled and hugged her, shocking her slightly.
"You're still my mom, I still love you, even if you aren't my birth mom." He said, making Regina smile and hug him back. I sighed in relief slightly, hoping that they wouldn't be the awkward family. Regina let go, turning to me.
"Welcome to my home, Miss Calliope." I laughed as we walked to the door, making Gina raise an eyebrow.
"Gina, just call me Callie. We're still friends, even if we haven't seen each other in a while. Hell, I'm about a hundred years younger than the last time you saw me but I'm still me." I said, smiling at her. Regina sighed and looked at me sadly, opening the door an revealing a gorgeous interior.
"Well, Calliope, here is my home. Make yourself at home, Henry can show you to the guest room. I just need to make a call." She said, walking into the kitchen as Henry pulled me up the stairs to a white door.
"This is the guest room with the best view and the window opens the widest so you can go for a fly! Could you maybe carry a passenger with you?" He said, revealing a gorgeous black and red room with a double bed and mahogany desk. I laughed and ruffled his hair, placing my bag down by the door.
"I've not got enough control of my magic to change back yet." His face fell slightly, making me sigh and twist my mouth, a habit I had got from Regina. "When I do get control, you'll be the first to know." He immediately perked up, smiling and going into his room. I sat on the soft bed, running a hand over the gorgeously soft material. I hadn't slept in a actual bed for a while, this would be a big leap from sleeping on benches and in the back of unlocked cars. I looked around at the gorgeous room once more, shocked as the change that had occurred in my life finally hit me. This was actually happened, it wasn't just a figment of my sometimes overactive imagination. I had finally found Regina after 29 years of searching and, this time, I was planning on holding her tightly and never letting go.