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Chapter 1: New Flight
Maleficent looked down at Stefan's body, recalling for an instant the young boy who had thrown away iron, now encased in it in death. There was no time for further contemplation as a figure in gold barrelled through the archway. Maleficent turned, suddenly afraid. She had not wished for Stefan's death in the end but what would Aurora think, seeing her standing over her father's body.
"Aurora…"
"Godmother! Are you alright?"
"I am fine, Beastie."
Aurora looked at Maleficent's wings and then down at her father.
"I'm sorry. It was over…but he grabbed me and we fell…I couldn't…" she faltered as Aurora knelt beside her father.
"He was the one who stole your wings." It wasn't a question.
A shriek from Diaval distracted Maleficent and she turned and stormed into the castle, flinging a "Stay here!" over her shoulder.
"Into a bird!" she cried and the chains that the soldiers had once more put upon him fell away from the suddenly much smaller raven. He flew out to her, cawing. Calls of surprise from the soldiers were followed by heavy footsteps and they fled to where Aurora still stood.
"Do you still wish to return to the Moors with us?" Maleficent asked.
"Yes." Aurora nodded emphatically.
"Then hang on, Beastie." Maleficent pulled her close and took to the sky, Diaval behind them as soldiers poured through to where the King lay.
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Maleficent was flagging by the time they reached the Moors. Her wings were strong still but she was unused to flight and had never carried another with her. Aurora clung to her in silence as they flew over the wall of thorns, towards the Great Oak. Maleficent had not returned there once since Stefan stole her wings but now it was the one place she wanted to be. Aurora tumbled from her grasp as she landed, staggering from exhaustion, still feeling the effects of the iron.
"Into a man." She waved a hand at Diaval. "Look after her." She commanded as she sank to the ground and collapsed into unconsciousness.