Three
Swan Notes
Chapter 3
Disclaimers: I do not own OUAT or its characters, just my colorful imagination. Regina got the truth from the Charmings, and she has been going through Emma's journals, wanting to get a better idea of who Miss Swan is. She has promised to help find Emma and bring her home. She's about to bring back an old friend and make amends with her and enlist her help in figuring out what she has discovered about Emma. What will happen? Will they find out why Emma Swan is so different from her parents? Will they find out where Emma is?
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Regina went to the library's elevator that would take her to the basement. She went down and when she emerged into the huge caverns, she found the living ashes of Maleficent. "There you are, old friend. I need your help, and I am so sorry for locking you up for so long. I offer my blood and ask you to accept it with forgiveness. We need to make amends and I will help you find the children those Charmings stole from you." She sliced her palm and allowed her blood to fall on the ashes.
She stepped back once the ashes began to move and take shape. She smiled as her old friend returned.
"I take that as a promise to help me find my daughters," Maleficent replied as she stepped forward.
Regina smiled. "It's good to see you again. I will help you find them. I also need your help finding out about Emma Swan. She's missing and I have been going through her journals and came across some things that have me questioning her parentage. She and I share a son, Henry." She went on to explain how Henry came to be in her life and how things went down with the Charmings.
Maleficent was intrigued by the fact that Emma left because the Charmings finally told her the truth of what they had done to Mal and her babies. Emma had been very pissed off at them for their actions. "So, why do you think they might not be Emma's parents?"
"How about we take this to my place and we talk about that while eating? You must be famished." Regina offered.
Maleficent smiled and nodded. "That's the best offer I have heard in a long time." She freshened herself and changed into clean clothes, using magic.
They then went to Regina's home as she prepared them a meal. Maleficent was amazed at the amenities of this time period and Regina had to explain everything to her. Once the meal was ready, Regina made a call to Ruby and Granny, asking them to watch Henry until it was time to get him. They agreed.
Maleficent eyed the photo of who she assumed was Henry. "Is this your son?"
Regina smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is. I think it's time to tell you everything I have learned about Emma. But first, I need to tell you she is the one who incapacitated you thanks to Rumple's request." She went on to explain how that happened. "At the time, Emma and I were at odds with each other because I felt threatened by her presence in his life."
Maleficent sighed deeply as she ate the food Regina cooked. She enjoyed it immensely and made sure she knew she did. "I'm listening. Tell me everything."
And tell her, she did. Regina left nothing out. She shared Emma's life story and soon, she noticed Maleficent's expression had changed. "Mal?"
The Dragon pushed her plate away when she heard about Emma's powers. "No. Wait… Emma experienced those things?" She shook her head as her breathing grew uneven. She was starting to grasp things. "If she can do that… both parents would have the same abilities. There is no way that those people are her parents. Do you have anything that belongs to Emma?"
Regina nodded. "I do. The journals she wrote in… and the blanket that she had when she was found." She took Mal's hand and in a cloud of purple smoke, they went to the vault and got the items.
Maleficent zeroed in on the stack of journals. She inhaled them, noticing Emma's scent was too familiar. She then saw the blanket and took it, inhaling it deeply. "There's a scent belonging to two babies. One that belongs to the baby that the Charmings had… and it's not Emma's scent." She gasped as she sat down hard. "Emma is my daughter!" She felt a wave of emotion hit her hard.
Regina gasped in surprise. "She is a dragon? She is one of your missing daughters?" She was stunned by the turn of events.
Mal buried her face in the blanket, crying for her daughters. "We need to find my babies! Believe me, those Charmings will pay!"
Regina knew if anything happened to Henry, she would move mountains to get him back. With the Charmings, they would cross the bridge when it happened. "We will find Emma. She is good at finding people. I'm sure she will want to find her sister. Let's get back." They went back to the house.
Regina was still reeling from the fact Emma was the daughter of the dragon. It was starting to make sense with the kind of powers she had. She noticed that Mal had brought all Emma's journals back with her. She said nothing, knowing that Mal had every right to know what her daughter went through. But at the same time, she was concerned with her temper. She knew how volatile dragons could be.
Maleficent had gone into the guest room and had gone through her daughter's journals, absorbing every word with magic. By the time she was done, she came out, seething mad, and noticed that Regina was waiting for her. "She and her sister should never have been sent to this world. If I ever find any of them who hurt Emma, I will dine on them after making them suffer first!"
Regina nodded, understanding where Mal was coming from. "I know you would. I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes." She would, no questions asked. Just then, the phone rang. Regina answered, and saw it was from Ursula and Cruella who were asking permission to come into Storybrooke, wanting another chance to redeem themselves.
Maleficent looked at Regina. "Let them in. Maybe they have information. They were there when I gave birth to my girls."
Regina thought for a moment. "If there is trouble…"
Maleficent smirked. "Are you worried? Besides, we have important things to focus on now. They would have been my daughters' Godparents. I don't think they will cause too much trouble if they know about Emma."
Regina sighed and nodded. "Alright. Let's go and meet them." They left to allow Cruella and Ursula into Storybrooke.
The moment they did, Cruella drove over the line. She stopped when she saw Maleficent was back. "What are you doing out and about darling? It's been implied that you were temporarily incapacitated."
The Dragon smiled. "A good friend of mine brought me back."
Ursula smiled. "It's good to see you, dragon. Would you two like to join us?"
"I don't see why not, fish sticks." Maleficent shared a look with Regina.
Regina understood what Maleficent wanted to do. She wanted to make sure they understood where she was coming from. They got into the car.
"So… we have to tell you something. That little imp is with us. We are going to his little cabin in the woods." Cruella explained as they sped through the woods.
Regina bit the inside of her cheek. They had been tricked into letting Rumple back into town after Belle had banished him in the first place. She didn't like being undermined by them. "I am the Mayor of Storybrooke. You didn't think to bring him up to me when you called?"
Ursula grimaced. "Sorry. We were under strict orders."
Regina shook her head and rolled her eyes, knowing she would need to keep an eye on him too.
Maleficent gave her a little nod saying she would be watching him closely too.
"We're here!" Cruella replied as they turned onto a long driveway that led to the cabin.
It was then, Regina noticed there was a magical barrier around the cabin. She saw it bore another magical user's signature. She knew how to bring it down. Once she did, she noticed they were not alone. There was a very familiar yellow bug parked in the driveway.
Rumple joined them. "What is she doing in my abode?"
Regina stepped forward, realizing what a welcome sight the car was. She had not realized how much she'd missed seeing that contraption around. "Emma." She breathed.
That got Maleficent's attention. She gasped as she took a deep breath and almost cried when she smelled the familiarity of her daughter's scent.
Just then, the front door opened and the blonde stepped out. "What the hell are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." She looked at Mr. Gold.
"Quite the contrary, dearie. You're in my home away from home." Came the reply from Gold.
Regina stepped forward. "Emma. Can we talk?"
The blonde noticed that Regina was calling her by her name. She lifted her hands and shrugged, knowing there was no need to keep hiding now that they found her. "I guess I have no choice. This isn't my home anymore." She moved to her car which was already packed with her belongings which were very little, to begin with.
Regina moved to the passenger side of Emma's car. She let Maleficent in first, much to Emma's surprise.
The blonde's jaws opened and closed a few times before she decided it was okay. She got in and they were off, leaving the other three behind.
Emma kept eying the other blonde through the rearview mirror as she drove. She looked at Regina. "So, who is your friend?"
Regina licked her lips and brushed her hair away before she looked back at Emma. "Maleficent."
Emma pulled to a stop. "Say what?"
The older woman had an amused smile on her face. "Hi." She waved at her and winked. She was looking forward to getting to know Emma soon.
Regina chuckled. "We will explain everything once we get to my place."