Epilogue

It was burning her; it was eating into her flesh. But she felt no pain. The only thought was to break free of these confined walls, to escape. With her newly found strength and wings, maleficent sped towards the window with the iron chain still firmly grasping her feet and dived out into the chilly darkness. The winds howled and blew with all their might but she did not falter. She had her wings back, she was flying, she was finally free.

But the battle was far from over. Stephan held on stubbornly to the iron chain dragging her down. No, she was not free. Not yet. She flew Stephan dangerously low into a guard post causing him to stumble. Untying the chains, Maleficent strode forward and held Stephan by his neck. He was to pay, pay for what he did to her 16 years ago. Her eyes met his and for that moment what Maleficent saw was not the greedy king who had stolen her wings. But she saw a boy, a boy who had once stolen heart. Confused, she took a step back. "It's over." Maleficent turned ready to go back to save Diaval, still in the heat of the battle.

Agony spread like a web encasing her stemming from between her wings. Stephan crashed into maleficent with all his might and whipped the iron chain onto her back. Taken by surprise, maleficent dived in a downwards spiral with Stephan on her back. 1000 feet left; the tables were turned. Maleficent wrestled Stephan until he was no more than holding onto her hands. 500 feet, Maleficent spread her wings.

Chapter 1

She stood before the lifeless form. Grief, pain, regret, relief and hatred flooded her. Maleficent knew that the boy she had once loved had already died long ago giving way to the beast that laid before her. But she had always silently hoped, hoped that one day he will return, hoped that he will love her the way he did once. He is truly dead now. Maleficent knelt before the creature that had took everything from her, her wings, her innocence, her heart.

The gates exploded outwards as a large form as black as the night came storming through, looking for his master.

"Here Diaval" Raising her hand in the direction of the dragon which was immediately replaced by a man.

"Mistress are you…" Diaval questioned, only to be cut off by the princess's arrival.

"Fairy godmother, I was so worried! Are you alright?", only then did she see the motionless form at Maleficent's feet. "Oh god is that…Is that…"

"I'm sorry Aurora." Maleficent looked down not daring to glimpse at Aurora's expression.

To Diaval's and her surprise, Aurora gave her an affectionate hug. "I am so glad that you are unharmed godmother!"

"Well, I am glad that you turned me a dragon", Diaval exclaimed suddenly accompanied by a hearty laughter. "Being a dragon is so much fun I wouldn't mind doing it again, but perhaps without the spears and nets next time. Well for all that is worth at least a dragon's hide cannot be pierced by those toys."

Maleficent was well aware of a throbbing pain spreading all over her body now that the adrenaline had died down. The angry blisters on her ankle, the wounds that refuse to heal on arms and chest and the growing dizzy that she felt. She tired her best to mask it by sitting down.

But that did not go unnoticed by Diaval who has spent the past 16 years in her service. The stoop in her usually regal and straight back, the iridescent orbs of her eyes now a dull grey. Diaval knew that something was amiss. "Mistress, you seem to have been hurt quite badly. Little one, we should bring my mistress to your chambers for a rest." Diaval and Aurora gently aided Maleficent to stand up and walked slowly into the castle. Maleficent did not object despite her proud self for she knew it was a feat too great for her to walk unaided.

A sudden piercing agony shot up from her ankle and then darkness, and peace.

The weight of her body hit her, then came the pain and aches. But she welcomed in an embrace as her eyelids fluttered open. She was lying in the cradle of the ember tree she once named her home. How she got there she was not sure. Forcing herself to think, snippets of memories and pictures came flooding back into her.

The darkness that engulfed her.

Hushed whispers, "She came into contact with too much iron, it has poisoned…" Once again she was enveloped by the comforting darkness.

Being lifted into something hard and bumpy. Was she in a cart? Where were they bringing her?

A faeries's urgent voices about someone in danger of dying. Were they taking about her?

Pain and agony beyond excruciating ran through her body. It felt like fire coursing through her entire being. She writhed and clawed at the darkness around her willing it to release her. A distant and urgent voice was calling out to her. It seemed somewhat familiar. Was he trying to calm her? It did not matter. She needed release and it came.

The cool touch of soft skin against her heated cheeks. Soothing voices around her. The gentle touch of magic…

Her aching back brought her back into the present as she spread her cramped wings. She spread her majestic wings and stood shakily, looking down at the moors. It was shrouded in a mist of darkness that Maleficent knew was her doing, but it was to be no more.

Within a week, the royal coronation for the new queen was to be held at the moors. Fair folks of all manner flocked the heart of the moors where Maleficent's throne once stood.

After bestowing the crown made up of the buds of golden yewlith flowers that grew only around Maleficent's tree to Aurora, the unofficial ball begun. The faeries started their musical chatter, the water faeries their graceful songs and the other fairfolks sang a song of joy and happily ever afters.

To Maleficent it was her cue to reside to a nearby cliff to overlook the celebration below. But the loss of the presence was not unfelt as Diaval followed behind her at a distance.

"What is it Diaval? Do you wish to be turned into a bird? Or maybe a snail? Or a fish?"

Before Maleficent could finish, "Or a mealy worm? Or that disgusting dog? Well, no thank you very much mistress," Diaval added.

"Maleficent. I am no longer your mistress, you have repaid your debts in full when you saved my life in King Stephen's castle. You are a free soul, go where your heart desire." Maleficent turned to face him. She did not know what she would do without Diaval by her side at her beck and call, but she understood that she had already done enough harm to him and he deserved to be free.

Diaval was taken aback. "Do you mean that you wish for me to leave you mis-?"

"Maleficent. Yes, I have caused you too much suffering, far more than any creature should deserve. You have done my bidding for 16 years. You must have a family that you wish to return to. You are free to leave." Maleficent looked at the ground for she knew if she did not do so her emotions might betray her.

"But what if…What if I wished to stay?" Diaval questioned tentatively.

"You are free to go as you are to stay. If you wish then you can take the top most branches of my tree to form a nest of your own. And you shall be bestowed with the ability to change your form at will." With that, Maleficent felt a flood of relief and flicked her wrist to cast her enchantment.

With the widest grin on his face, Diaval morphed into a raven and followed Maleficent into the sunset.