AN: A Swan Queen love story with a twist. Feedback is greatly welcomed.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or content etc.
"Mirror," Regina beckoned. Sydney's face appeared with a glower. "Have you had any luck locating the writer of this horrible tome?" She clutched the storybook close in her hand.
"Not yet your majesty," He answered in a huff. "Mind you it's only been a few days."
"Everyday spent in attempt to locate him is a day my happy ending slips further from my grasp," Regina said as she tightened her fist.
"I will continue my search your majesty," Sydney answered. "In the mean time might I suggest you spend some time with your son. I'm sure Henry misses you very much."
"Don't pretend to understand anything about my son," Regina snapped. It had been four days since Emma returned from the enchanted forest with Marian. Regina had spent most of those time shut inside her office avoiding Henry and his other mother.
The two of them were so obnoxiously hell bent on finding happiness for her, that they hadn't even allowed her time to grieve the loss of her soul mate, Robin Hood. They'd been so persistent that Regina developed the habit of teleporting from her office to her home in order to avoid them
"If you'd like I can show them to you," Sydney cleared his throat. "Emma and Henry, I mean." It was as if Sydney could read her mind. It had been two years that he was locked away. In that time Regina had allowed herself to forget just how well he had once known her.
"That won't be necessary," Regina shook her head. "Showing me them won't get us any closer to the writer or me to my happy ending."
"Your majesty, I must insist-"
"Enough," Regina waved her hand and his image disappeared. Regina stared at her reflection for a moment. Momentarily, regret flooded her mind. He name was on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to see them- or him. She wasn't sure anymore but seeing them in person had been too much. She could barely stand to look at them.
They were so happy. The Charmings and their new baby. The Savior and their son. Everyone of them on their way to fully enjoying their happy endings. It made Regina's stomach sick to think of everyone in her life moving on without her.
There was a knock on her office door. A hard and clumsy rapping not like the Savior's typical gentle knock. But Regina knew it was Emma. She'd been by everyday around this same time, asking to be let in.
"Regina, open the door," A drunken pirate slurred from the other side of the door. Regina felt her heart sink in her chest. Had Emma actually thought sending Hook would work? Maybe she underestimated the persistence of Ms. Swan after all. "You and I ought to have a little chat." A large thud sounded as he body slumped against the door.
"Go away, Hook," Regina sighed heavily. "And you can tell Em-"
"She didn't send me," Hook interrupted. "In fact, she hasn't had much to say to me at all since we got back. In fact, the only thing she seems to think about is making you happy."
Regina swallowed hard, suppressing the smirk that was about to form,"If Emma didn't send you then why are you here?"
"Because I have something that you might want," Hooks words were with a loud huff from Regina. "I really don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be."
"Then leave," Regina growled and turned her back from the door once more.
"I think I might have something that can help you get your happy ending," Hook shouted.
Regina doubted he was speaking the truth but her curiosity peaked, "And what is it that you want in return?"
"Only for Emma to stop fixating on you," Hook answered. "She seems to be under the impression that you deserve a happy ending." Regina's stomach tightened in knots. She turned toward the door and opened.
"But you and I both know that Villains don't get happy endings," Hook said as he held an amulet on a gold chain. "If we want happiness, sometimes we have to steal it."
When Regina looked closely at the amulet, she recognized it right away. A bright fragment of a star, trapped in a small glass vial. "And just what am I suppose to do with that?"
'Whatever you wish," Hook smirked as he placed the chain and the amulet in her hand.
Regina sat by the fireplace in her home. The amulet dangled from the chain around Regina's neck. Fallen stars have many magical powers. Fairies sometimes captured them to help them grant wishes. Hook claimed that he stole it centuries ago. Once he found out that it couldn't enact vengeance or bring back the dead he had no personal use for it. He'd given it to Smee for safe keeping and forgotten all about it until he saw it in Gold's shop several months ago.
The power from the amulet radiated through her whole body. She could sense its strength but wasn't entirely show to make it work. Simply speaking a wish seemed to do nothing. She pouted as she wished that Emma had never brought Marian back to life.
Perhaps, Tink would have an idea. She thought to herself. No doubt, any advice from her fairy friend would come with a firm word or two about the consequences of magic.
Regina leaped off of her sofa when she heard a large clash on the floor above her. She quickly ran up her spiral staircase. She checked the room saving her own for last. Arming herself with a fireball in the palm of her hand she cautiously opened the door. "Whoa hey, don't shoot," Emma waved her hands in self defense. There were shards of glass on the bed and bits of window frame scattered throughout the room.
"Miss Swan," Regina rolled her eyes. "Refreshing your breaking and entering tactics?"
"I, uh, I was trying," Emma rubbed the back her neck. "I didn't mean to break the window. I was trying to teleport to your living room. I guess I propelled myself here."
Regina raised a skeptical brow, "As intrigued as I am to hear what you have to say, I think I'll save you the hassle of trying to explain." She took a step toward the blonde. "You can leave now, Miss Swan."
"No," Emma protested as she too stepped toward Regina. "I'm tired of you shutting me," Emma shook her head. "Shutting us out. Henry needs his mother. There's a bit of a situation happening and I need-"
"What about what I need," Regina snapped at her. "Contrary to popular belief the world doesn't revolve around your wants, Savior." She spun on her heels and headed for the door.
"Don't do that," Emma said following after her. "Don't reduce us to the Savior and the Evil Queen. You know there's more to who we are than that." Regina bit her tongue once more as she she made her way down the spiral stairs with Emma close behind.
"Regina, if you'd just stop for one minute," Emma begged as they found their way to the sitting room. "I want to help you."
Regina turned to face Emma then, her eyes swirled with a darkness. She lifted her hand and raised it into the air, magically pulling the Savior from the ground. Emma's feet lifted from the ground and her windpipe began to close. "Miss Swan I've grown tired of your help. You will leave immediately or I will make you wish that you had." She spoke through gritted teeth as her hand dropped.
Emma coughed, clearing her throat slightly as she regained her footing, "Death threats Regina, really? I'm just trying to-"
"What you're trying to do is what you always do," Regina spoke through locked jaw. "It's your help that got me here in the first place. Your incessant need to save others, to see the good in everyone."
"You deserve happiness, Regina," Emma argued. "I'm going to help you find it but you can't keep shutting me out."
"I had a chance at happiness, two of them actually," Regina huffed. "They were both taken from me."
"You've some how convinced yourself that you've got exclusive rights to be miserable," Emma grumbled. "You're not the only person whose lost someone."
"Emma, stop," Regina held up her hand. "Your path is nothing like mine. You've got your happy ending. You have your family and your new boyfriend."
"Hook is not my-" Emma sighed heavily. "I wish you could see that we heroes have suffered plenty for our happiness," At Emma's words the amulet began to glow. "My life is no bed of roses. Never has been." Regina could feel it glowing hot against her skin. She somehow wasn't surprised that Emma would effortlessly make the amulet work but she wasn't going to be cheated out of the wish the way she's been cheated out of her happiness.
"I wish you knew the even half the burden of being the savior," before Emma finished her words she felt her head grow dizzy. The room spun when she looked to Emma she saw the blonde stumbling on her feet. The two of them collapsed on the floor in unison.
When Regina woke up she found herself in a strange bed. Her eyes opened slowly and she scanned her surroundings. The shabby walls and scratchy sheets were a far cry from what she would have woken up to in the mayor's mansion.
As her head cleared she slid on a stiff flannel robe and stepped into a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers that rested by her bed. She took another another glance at her surroundings. It was undoubtedly Mary Margaret's loft. Regina could recognize the horrible color scheme anywhere. She was upstairs, in what have been Emma's room. Only it wasn't Emma's. Regina's clothes and several personal items were draped about.
Immediately, Regina thought of the wishing amulet and reached for her neck but it wasn't there. She felt through the sheets of the bed but couldn't find it anywhere. Where could it have gone? It must be with Emma. She let out a heavy sigh. She needed to find Emma. Before Regina could completely form her thoughts, a familiar voice called to her from down stairs. "Regina, dear, breakfast is ready."
Without a moment's hesitation Regina bolted down the stairs. A wave of butterflies pounded in her chest. When she saw the figure before her. "Mother," she whispered, her voice soft and shaky.
"Why of course, dear," Cora scoffed. "Who else in this house cooks apple turnovers at 6am?" She smiled at her. A genuine full-hearted smile. Regina smiled back and ran to her mother, giving her a large hug.
"Are you feeling alright?" Cora asked with a laugh. "You're usually not so touchy feely in the morning."
"I'm fine, Mother," Regina took a seat on the bar stool as her mother set a plate in front of her. A million questions about this world raced through her head. She ate her turnover as she remembered the words that Emma spoke. She wished Regina knew a hero's burden. Was this it?
She had a million questions. None of which she could ask her mother. "I've suddenly forgotten I have somewhere to be," Regina stated quickly as she took another bite of the turnover and headed for the door.
"Regina, might I suggest that you wear something a little less revealing if you're going to be leaving the house," her mother scolded. Regina nodded and smiled at her mother. Regina waved her hand and her outfit magically changed.
"What on earth has gotten into you?" Cora yelped at her daughter and stared at her in disgust. "Have you gone completely mad?"
She glanced her outfit up and down it was a simple dress, like one she'd wear on other day. Before Regina could process what might have upset Cora this much, the door to the loft opened.
"How are two favorite women this morning?" Rumple smiled to Regina and kissed Cora on check. Regina grimaced and looked away. Could Rumple really be her father? This was too much to handle. She reminded herself not to overreact. If she was going to survive this world, she'd have to plav by its rules.
"Well, if you'd like to know, your daughter just used magic to change her wardrobe," Cora crossed her arms and glared at Regina.
"Regina, what have your mother and I told you," Rumple said.
"I know, I know," Regina attempted her best impression of Emma Swan's shrug as she brushed passed him in the door. She didn't know what they had 'always told' her. She was painfully overwhelmed by what she had just seen and what it all might mean.
She took a deep breath. If she was going to get to the bottom of this she needed to find Emma. And there was only one place to look. The mayor's mansion.