Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite stories of all time. Most people know the movie and the play, but it actually got its start as a book by Gaston Leroux. The play, the movie, and the book all have elements in them that I really enjoy. This is going to be my attempt to combine elements from all three with a special twist: gender bender and modern day AU. I hope you all enjoy my take on this classic tale. I do not own The Phantom of the Opera. All rights to all products go to their proper owners.

Chapter 1: Going Back

There are times when it feels like we are the masters of our own fate, but there are those who remind us that we are not in as much control as we had previously thought. I was content living my life in the sewers of the Opera Populaire, but circumstances caused me to have to leave. Now, after ten years, I am finally going back.

The building had been closed down ever since the incident. I was expecting the place to be vacant so that I might live in peace, but I found it to be filled with a few people. There was an auction taking place. They were selling off the props, costumes, everything from the opera. I made my way through the catacombs and climbed to the top walkway to get a better view of the scene.

It pained me to see the public letting the opera go, but ever since the incident from ten years ago and the more recent event of Mr. Christopher Daae's sickness, no one has cared about the old place. As I looked at the people below, I noticed two familiar faces: Mr. Giry and Mr. Daae himself.

I had heard rumors that Mr. Daae's illness was killing him, but from the way he looked, he looked dead already. My heart was pained at seeing this. His wife was not with him as she should have been. It made me wonder why they had married in the first place.

I hadn't been listening to the auctioneer, but I did pay attention to the item that had just been sold to Mr. Daae: my music box. The masks were the only distinct features on the dancing couple atop the music box. It was just quiet enough for me to hear it play. I leaned closer on the railing. It felt like only yesterday.

Just then, a proud woman entered the opera, her walk quick and purposeful. The proud woman was the renowned Ruina, the Mrs. Daae. My hands gripped the railing harder in anger. Of all the people I disliked in this world, she was the one I disliked the most.

Her voice echoed throughout the entire opera as she said, "Come along, darling, you know you shouldn't be out and about in your condition." That grating, self-righteous, annoying voice made me shudder. She had her hands on the shoulders of the former Opera Populaire performer, Christopher Daae, and he replied with some quiet coughing. He whispered something into her ear and I saw her roll her eyes. "Well, if we must, darling, we must."

"I must say, Miss de Chagny, you must have either a great deal of bravery or a great deal of stupidity to return to this place which you so fear," said Mr. Giry.

"I am not afraid of this place. It's nothing but cobwebs now," replied Mrs. Daae. "It is you, sir, who have the stupidity to still refer to me by my maiden name. I have been married to Mr. Daae these ten years."

"It would be wrong of me to refer to you as anything else. While she has accepted your name change publicly, there is still a place in her mind that knows the truth."

"And just who are you speaking of?" asked the auctioneer. He hadn't continued the auction ever since Mrs. Daae came in. "Do you honestly think the phantom is still here?"

"I do not think it, sir, I know it," replied Mr. Giry.

"That's impossible. I had heard she had left," said Mrs. Daae.

"And so she had, but she has returned. If I were you, madam, I would suggest you leave now while it is still safe," said Mr. Giry.

"I am not afraid."

"Then prove it."

Music echoed through the building then. I had taken out my phone and played my organ music at full volume. From the looks on their faces, it was enough to restore their faith. They seemed panicked (except for Mr. Daae and Mr. Giry, who knew that there was no reason to fear).

I stopped the music just long enough to let one of them speak. That one turned out to be Mrs. Daae. "Raise the chandelier," she said.

"Pardon?" asked the auctioneer.

"Raise the chandelier! If the phantom's really here, she won't let the chandelier be hung back in its old place," she said.

"Actually, I might," I said. I had managed to climb down to their level quite silently. I now stood before them. They turned to me and I saw the pallor of fear on Mrs. Daae's face and the shocked expression of Mr. Daae. When Mr. Giry gave his silent smile, I smiled in return. "What's the matter, Ruina? It looks as though you've seen a ghost." I laughed.

"You're- you're not real," she said, her voice shaking.

"I'm as real as I can possibly be," I said. "Would the gentlemen please do the honor of raising the chandelier on my mark?" A few men who worked for the auction were ready at the ropes. I waved a hand and began singing. The opera walls had not heard this song in ten years and, like the chandelier, it was returning to its rightful place. My grin grew wider as the memories came flooding back. I knew that this was nostalgic for some, but for Mrs. Daae, it was like reliving a nightmare, I was sure of it. I had my opera back. Now, it was time for me to get back to my old tricks. I could only hope that the future would give me a better outcome than what had transpired in the past. The opera already looked to me as it did so long ago.

There's the first chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed and please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)