Hi everyone! It's Ches again.
Again I want to thank everyone for your extremely nice reviews; you really make me smile for days.
Here's the third chapter, I really hope you like it. Also this chapter was quite difficult for me to write and I fear it got kind of confusing. So I'm really sorry if it's hard to understand.
The thoughts of the Phoenix may also be a bit confusing, because it doesn't think in whole, logical sentences, because that's mostly its instinct whispering.
Also I was asked, why my chapters are so short, well there are a lot of reasons: This is my first fanfic, so I didn't want to overdo it. In addition English isn't my mother tongue and I write the plot of my story on my way from or to university and overwork it when I'm home. I don't really want to stretch the story, because I'm afraid of it getting boring, if I do. And last, the chapters are short, so I can upload faster, if I make them longer I will also need much more time writing them.
Well anyway, I hope you enjoy it either way!
I own nothing, neither the characters nor the content of Once upon a time.
From the Ashes
Chapter 3
After the incidents with the Snow Queen, Reginas possible death or not-death and not to forget the giant Phoenix which was now heading for the town, Emma called for an assembly at the town hall. There almost every citizen of Storybrooke - except, for example, Snow White, who was at home with Baby Neal - gathered and they all spoke in loud and upset voices, so basically it was a complete mess.
While Charming spoke to the people and tried to calm them, Emma tried to explain what happened, to Henry. How should she tell her son, that his other mother had probably died, or that she at least had no idea what had happened to Regina or where she was? For Emmas liking, this situation was far too similar, to the situation when she had to tell him about Neal.
"Henry..." She started and didn't know how to go on.
"Where's mom?" Henry asked, while searching the hall for her.
"Regina is..., well... you know, something happened and now..."
Robin stepped forth to help her. "We aren't quite sure what happened - that's something we have to ask Mr. Gold - but Regina's currently not here. She was very brave and selfless. She saved us, but..." After Robin stopped - his eyes darkened with emotion - Emma spoke again, secretly thanking him for helping her start this conversation.
"It almost seems like she shape shifted into some kind of Phoenix. Whatever happened we will find a way to bring back the old Regina." Emma put one Hand on Henrys shoulder, reassuringly. "I'm sure your mother is fine. You originally brought me to this town, to bring back the happy endings and that I will do."
It took Henry a minute to swallow all that he has been told, but then he looked up at Emmas face and nodded. "She is fine. I know she is. She is very strong and powerful after all and she has the most resilient heart. She will come back to me, once she is ready. We mustn't lose hope." There it was, his kinship to Snow White was unmistakable.
When the crowd calmed down, Emma and Charming went to where Gold stood beside his wife Belle. "Mr. Gold, have you any idea what could have happened to Regina? What about the Phoenix?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you deary, but this time, I am as clueless as you."
Everyone looked quite disappointed at that statement. With a glance at her husband Belle said, "Maybe I can find something in the library." Belle ran out of the hall, just as Robin headed outside, to take a quick look after Roland and his still frozen wife. They continued to discuss what they should do until Belle would find some useful information.
Suddenly they heard a scream. Through the door came a scared looking Tinkerbell. Emma ran to her, she had a bad feeling about this. "What happened?"
Tink calmed herself with a deep breath before she spoke. "I went to Reginas house to see if that was all just some sort of plan she had. And I kind of thought she would already be home, laughing about us. But when I came to the house it was empty. So I went to the backside and there I saw something unbelievable! Her tree, her beloved apple tree grew to the size of a huge mammoth tree! But that's not the spooky part! In the crown of it sat a giant, red bird, building itself a nest!"
After her fast speech, she took another deep breath, while Emma tried to put everything together that she had heard.
Meanwhile at Reginas house:
After the Phoenix flew over this familiar looking building, it saw that little tree, planted behind it. The creature flew above it, using some of its magic on it. The tree grew and grew, until the Phoenix was satisfied with it. Then the bird-like creature landed on the big, thick branches in the treetop and started building a nest. The phoenix first put some smaller branches together to form the structure of the nest and started then plucking many of its soft down feathers, to soften the nest and make it comfortable.
The phoenix was still engulfed in its work, when it heard noises coming closer to its lair.
Intruders! The phoenix angrily flapped its wings, inflaming them immediately and then using its magic to create a fire wall around the tree. When some humans came closer - just stopping right before the wall - the phoenix shrieked warningly. They backed away two steps, all but one, one slightly smaller and younger looking human. A boy the phoenix' mind whispered.
As Emma, Charming and unfortunately Henry came near the house, they already saw the phoenix sitting on the large tree. Emma had tried to make Henry stay at Granny's, but the boy was stubborn as always and had wanted to see for himself if the huge bird was his mother. There wasn't the time to argue any further, so Henry tagged along.
"Mom? Is that you? Please answer me! It's you, right?" The boy took another step forward.
Emma tried to stop him. "Henry, don't! It might be dangerous!"
"No. That's my mom inside of that animal. I know it's her! She would never hurt me!" The kid looked pleading back into the eyes of the phoenix. "Mom, do you remember? It's me, Henry, your son." The phoenix put her head to the side, thinking. Something about this human boy resounded within her. That boy was... is...
The phoenix flapped its wings, stood up and flew down to the boy. That human, who had spoken to the boy before, quickly grabbed something. A weapon. Protect your hatchling! Her instinct screamed. So the phoenix carefully grabbed the boy with her claws and flew him to the nest, setting him inside it.
"Henry!" The human screamed. Then the phoenix turned around screeching. She flapped her wings, making the fire wall bigger and spreading the flames further, so that the intruders had to flee.
Charming dragged Emma - who didn't want to run away - with him. "Emma we need to go! Don't worry about Henry. He's right, Regina would never hurt him. We will think of something and come back later and save him."
"Are you even certain, that's Regina? You have no proof!"
"Just look how she wants to protect Henry. That's Regina for sure. Henry recognized her too. Come on now!"
After they were done talking, they quickly retreated, while the stubborn human called back to the boy. "Henry, don't be afraid! We will come back and get you!"
When the danger was over and the humans were finally gone, the phoenix slowly flew back to her nest and to her little one.
So that was chapter 3, I hope you liked it and that you're not too disappointed.
Please review and tell me if that chapter made any sense at all. If not I will try to rewrite it for you.
It will probably take me some time to finish the next chapters, because soon I've got many exams coming up, to learn for and therefore I'll have less time writing. So I want to apologize beforehand if it takes a while.