"CHRISTINA WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Alissa screamed as she rushed out of the house.

"I wanna fly too!" Christina cried before jumping out of the tree.

Alissa caught her six-year-old daughter mid-fall and brought her to the safety of the ground.

"What were you thinking? You could have HURT YOURSELF!" Alissa demanded as Christina began to cry.

"They-they said, they-they said it would work,"

"Who? Who told you?'

"Florence, Fiona and, Mary,"

Alissa saw red.

"Christina, sweetheart go inside,"

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, now go inside,"

Christina obeyed her mother and went inside but rather than go to her room she stood at the hall mirror and sighed. Christina was small for her age, thin too. She stared at her reflection with confusion. Christina and her mother were both fairies but unlike her mother, Christina had no wings. Maybe this was because Christina wasn't exactly a fairy but a hybrid. The child of a fairy and a vampire.

"I wanna fly too," Christina whispered.

She didn't understand it maybe she never would. Because in the mirror there stood a scrawny, pale brown-eyed wingless fairy with fangs and slightly pointed ears. In the mirror brown eyes filled with tears. In the mirror, the girl stomped her feet and pulled her wispy hair from its bow. In the mirror, the girl fell to the floor and cried. Cried and cried and cried some more. Then she stood and stomped away. Back to the living room where she threw herself into her mother's chair and wrapped herself in a quilt.

"How dare they! How dare they mess with her!"

Christina sat up at the sound of her mother's voice. She was angry. She'd never heard her mother this angry before. In curiosity, she crept to the window and listened.

"My-my, Alissa", a regal voice replied. "I have never seen you this angry before. I must say, I rather like it."

"Not the time, Mom!", Alissa hissed through clenched teeth. "Yes, I'm angry! But I am NOT turning evil! I'll deal with this like a parent; NO curses!"

Christina grinned excitedly as she raced out of the house.

"Grammy!", Christina squealed happily, running down the stairs into the open arms of her grandmother.

"There you are, my little love-bat", Maleficent said lovingly, as she hugged Christina.

"Every dark cloud has a silver lining", Alissa muttered to herself. As dark and evil as her mother was, she did love her family dearly and was a loving and doting grandmother.

"Alissa, I understand how you feel. I don't agree with it, but I understand it", the elder dark fairy said. "I would like to help if you'll let me?"

"You're not cursing anyone either, Mom!" Alissa replied although she would have secretly loved to see that.

"No-no, my dear", Maleficent chuckled. "Nothing so...blatant if well-deserved. Christina is old enough to start learning magic. Your sister has already asked me to start teaching Faybelle. I could simply teach Christina at the same time. Then SHE can decide how to defend herself from anyone foolish enough to bully her."

Alissa looked at Christina who was still clinging to her grandmother. Then she recalled the months of torment Christina had suffered.

"Oh, alright but no-"

"Curses, yes, I know," Maleficent laughed as Christina finally ran off to play with the crows that followed Maleficent everywhere.

"Let's discuss this inside, Mother," Alissa said quietly as she glanced at her daughter.

"Very well,"

While the adults went inside to further discuss Christina's magic studies Christina herself stayed outside running around in circles while trying to catch Diablo. Christina soon fell to the ground dizzy and wishing the sky would stop spinning. When she sat back up she glanced at the forest. She wasn't supposed to go there by herself, her mother had made that very clear but something caught her attention. A moving bush on the edge of the forest. Christina stood up fixing her worn-out play dress and set forward to investigate. Maybe it was a family of rabbits or raccoons.

She slowly neared the bush and after taking a deep breath looked under it expecting to see something small and fluffy instead, she was greeted with the sight of something small and scaly.. the black and blue scaly thing was hiding behind its tail. It seemed frightened and hurt.

"Hi," Christina greeted her voice barely a whisper, "I won't hurt you. Please come out,"

Slowly the mysterious creature uncoiled itself and Christina was astounded to find herself face to face with a baby dragon. Specifically of the evil variety. The baby stared at her with fearful purple eyes. It squeaked as it slowly reached out to sniff her outstretched fingers before latching onto her arm.

"Are you hungry?", Christina asked as she lifted the smaller than normal dragon from the ground, "Let's take you inside and get you some food,"

Christina gently carried the baby into the house where she found her mother and grandmother at the kitchen table. They looked up upon her entrance.

"Mommy, look what I found. I think he needs help,"

Maleficent walked over to examine the abandoned baby. He was smaller than most baby dragons, covered in black scales streaked with deep blue and had purple eyes. She watched rather pleased as her granddaughter gently stroked the dragon's wings as she tried to feed it some greens Alissa had intended to use for dinner.

"I think he likes you, Christina,"

"Really?"

"Yes, most dragons if ever caught often chose their owners and I think he's chosen you," Maleficent explained softly.

"Can I keep him, Mommy?" Christina asked.

"Of course,"

"What are you going to name him?" Maleficent inquired.

"Prince,"

….


Later that night as Alissa put Christina to bed.

"Mommy?"

"Hm?"

"When's Daddy coming home?"

Alissa froze. Christina asked this question every night and it broke her heart. She did not yet understand that her father had passed on and Alissa didn't have the heart to explain it.

"He's going to dance with me when he comes back right?"

Alissa couldn't put it off any longer. She had to explain it to Christina before someone else told her.

"Butterfly, do you remember how sick daddy was?"

"Yes, he couldn't leave bed so I would sit with him and I'd sing then he promised we'd dance when he got better. Then one day he was gone and lots of strangers came here and hugged me and asked me questions and told me Daddy loved me,"

"Sweetie, Daddy isn't coming home he-he can't,"

"But why Mommy? I miss Daddy,"

"I know,"

"Where'd he go?"

"Come on, I'll show you,"

So Christina slid into her shoes and followed her mother outside. Alissa transported them to Hood Hollow where Radu's grave stood under an ancient oak tree.

"Daddy's...dead?"

"Yes," Alissa whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I wanna go home, Mommy," Christina whispered as she started to cry.

When they returned Christina kicked off her shoes and followed her mother into her bedroom. She really didn't want to be alone right now. Alissa pulled the covers around them as her daughter snuggled close.

"Would you like to hear a story?" Alissa asked softly.

Christina nodded.

"Did I ever tell you about the day you were born?"

"No, Mommy,"

"Well, it started out like any other day..."

...


Alissa and her husband, Radu were busy doing last minute shopping for the baby. Once they had stocked on everything from storybooks to bottles they were on their way home. Alissa had used her magic to send their purchases directly to their home and rather than fly directly there they took a nice leisurely walk through the woods.

Radu froze suddenly catching Alissa by surprise.

"What's the matter? What is it?"

"Alissa, how fast can you contact your mother?"

"Why?"

"I think ve are being followed,"

Alissa was quick to send a message to her mother who would no doubt rush to stop whatever was going on.

A twig snapped behind them.

"RUN"

The two ran as quickly as they could. They ran even faster when a string of silver tipped arrows were fired at them. Faster and faster. So fast in fact that the forest around them was nothing but a green and brown blur. Alissa nearly fainted in relief as a beastly roar and a great flapping of wings shook the trees. Her mother was there and whoever was chasing them became her unfortunate victim.

Alissa stumbled into their cottage as Radu shut the door behind them. The cottage was protected magically so they didn't have to worry.

"I-I think I'll go lay down," Alissa said as she caught her breath.

"Alright, I'll wake you if your mother arrives,"

"Thank you,"

Alissa slowly made her way to the bedroom passing the nursery that still stood empty. Just a few more weeks then it wouldn't be so empty. For now, Alissa was content to sleep. Entering her room the tired fairy climbed into bed turning on her side to face her nightstand. She drifted to sleep staring at her half-finished painting.

She woke sometime later. Something was wrong. Alissa belatedly realized what was happening.

She was having contractions which could only mean one thing.

The baby was coming.

"RADU!"

"Vhat? Vhat's wrong?" Radu asked as he burst into the bedroom Maleficent directly behind him.

"Baby's coming,"

"Now?"

"Yes. NOW,"

"But it's too early," Maleficent stated bluntly.

"YOU WANT TO TELL HER THAT, MOTHER?"

"Now, Now, dear calm down. I'm going to help you,"

Several hours later Alissa gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

"She's precious," Maleficent coed. "Did you decide on a name?"

"Christina, her name is Christina," Alissa replied.

…...


"Christina, your Daddy loved you so very much. You know that right?" Alissa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Mommy," Christina yawned as she finally allowed sleep to overcome her.

"Sweet dreams, Butterfly,"

…...


Two days later, Christina and her mother arrived at Maleficent's castle so that Christina's magic studies could begin. It had been decided by Maleficent that Christina was to stay with her for four days a week from Monday to Thursday. Faybelle and her mother arrived shortly before them so Christina and Faybelle were sent to unpack while the adults talked.

As Christina was preparing Prince's bed, Faybelle flew in.

"You know why we're training don't you?" Faybelle asked with a smirk.

"Because we need to learn magic?" Christina questioned as she sat on the rug.

"No, we're dark fairies. We're going to curse royalty someday!"

Faybelle was sure this would send her goody-goody cousin over the edge but much to her surprise Christina wasn't the least bit phased.

"I KNOW I'm a dark fairy, Faybelle! But my mommy already told me I can be like her, that I don't have to be evil. Even Grammy told me I get to choose how to use my magic. YOU can be evil if you want, but I'm not gonna! But Grammy did get kinda weird when she saw my birthmark."

"Birthmark? What birthmark?", her cousin asked suspiciously.

"This", Christina turned and lifted her hair to show the back of her neck. Faybelle gasped. "What? My mommy has it too."

"YOU HAVE THE DRAGONMARK?!" Faybelle screamed before rushing to find her mother with Christina trailing behind her.

Faybelle burst in on the adults, rage burning in her eyes as she screeched:

"CHRISTINA HAS THE DRAGONMARK!"

"What?" Lucinda asked standing abruptly, "Where?"

"On her neck,"

Lucinda marched to where Christina stood grabbing her niece by the hair and roughly lifted it to validate her daughter's claims. Once she saw the truth she turned to Alissa.

"Did you know about this, dear sister?", Lucinda hissed.

"Ow!-Ow!-OW!", Christina cried as her aunt angrily gripped and twisted her hair.

"Lucinda, let go of Christina's hair", Alissa said in a warning tone. "NOW."

"Bah!", Lucinda scoffed, releasing the girl, who ran and hid behind her mother. "Answer me, Alissa! Did you know?!"

"Of course I knew, Lucinda. She wasn't born with long hair, you know."

"Do YOU have it?", Lucinda snarled. Alissa refused to answer, and neither did she back down, defiantly holding her older sister's gaze. Already livid, Lucinda's rage boiled over. "DO YOU HAVE IT?!"

"Yes, your sister was born with the dragonmark, Lucinda", Maleficent interjected calmly, separating her daughters before the situation escalated.

"Why did you never tell me, Mother?!", Lucinda screeched. "I am the elder daughter! I embraced our family's legacy of evil and darkness! Alissa always rejected it! It should've been MINE!"

"Mommy, why are Auntie and Faybelle so mad?", Christina quietly asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, my precious butterfly, you did nothing wrong", Alissa hugged her comfortingly.

"THIS is exactly why I never told you, Lucinda", she replied, totally unfazed by her elder daughter's anger. "It is a gift of FATE, not an inheritance. It could just as easily have been you. And it could just as easily have been Faybelle this generation."

"Well, now I know why you always favored Alissa over me, Mother!", Lucinda snarled.

"Relax, Lucinda", Alissa told her. "You're not missing anything. The mark has made absolutely no difference in my life."

"Oh really, little sister?!", she screamed. "Mother ALWAYS favored you over me, even after you rejected the proud, centuries-old family tradition of Evil! You were always more powerful than me! You were always there, robbing me of my due! Well, I will NOT allow your wingless freak of a child do the same to my Faybelle! Mother?! I demand that you help me magically transfer the Dragonmark to Faybelle!"

"ARE YOU CRAZY, SIS?!", Alissa shouted, hugging Christina protectively. "Do you have ANY IDEA how danger...?"

Maleficent stepped between her daughters, slamming the base of her scepter down thunderously.

"That would be...ill-advised, Lucinda", she said in an even, darkly undertoned voice. "Such an invasive magically process would be extremely painful and could seriously harm the girls, especially at so young an age. It would likely be fatal to Christina, and Fayebelle's chances of surviving would be fair at best, and the injury and pain she would suffer..."

"...Will be worth it to ensure that MY daughter receives her due as the RIGHTFUL HEIR to the Shadowfae LEGACY OF DARKNESS!"

"You heard Mother!", Alissa reminded her sister. "It would KILL Christina! How can you so casually disregard the life of your niece, your BLOOD? Have you no heart?"

Christina was sobbing as she clung to her mother. She was terrified of what was going on.

"MY 'BLOOD'?! Hah! That's a laugh, coming from YOU! Fayebelle's father may be an annoying trickster, but at least he's FAE!", Lucinda snarled. "As a pureblood, Fayebelle's life and legacy far outweigh that of your little half-breed! She's just a wingless freak unworthy of the Dragonmark! She'll NEVER be capable of any magic greater than vampire parlor tricks, just like her lowly leech of a father!"

Christina wailed, tears flowing down her face like a powerful waterfall.

"It's unfair! Why does the wingless freak get the Dragonmark?" Faybelle asked.

Then Christina burst into flames. Black and purple flames that left Faybelle and her mother at a loss for words.

"Sh, sh, Christina, it's okay,"

"I'm I'm FREAK!" Christina wailed, flaming still.

"No, no, Butterfly. You aren't a freak. I promise!" Alissa replied.

"Christina, why don't you go play with Diablo in the courtyard? I think he wants to play a game of hide and seek,"

Diablo nodded in agreement.

By this time Christina was no longer in flames but tears still shone in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. Alissa lifted her distressed daughter from the ground whispering promises that she wasn't a freak that no one was going to hurt her and, she wasn't to blame. Once Christina's sobs had quieted Alissa set her down and watched with relief as she, Diablo and, Prince all ran for the courtyard.

Once Christina was out of earshot Alissa did something no one had ever seen nor would ever see again. She marched right up to her sister and slapped her across the face.

"How dare you!" Alissa hissed, her quiet voice far scarier than her yelling, "How dare you! How dare you disregard the life of my CHILD, it sickens me sister how easily you toss safety and caution to the wind,"

"It's not my fault you had such an ugly disgrace for a child!" Lucinda retorted.

"What did you just call Christina?" Maleficent asked.

"You know it's the truth mother. That child looks more like her pathetic father than a fairy. She doesn't even have wings? What kind of fairy doesn't have wings?"

"I don't," Maleficent replied.

Lucinda blanched, realizing just what she had said.

"Get out. Both of you! You can teach Faybelle yourself, Lucinda,"

"But mother-"

"Get out,"

Mother and daughter ran for the hills.

With Lucinda and Faybelle gone Alissa went to find Christina sure that she was playing hide and seek. However, when Alissa and Maleficent entered the courtyard Christina was crying bitterly. It was like a knife to the heart for Alissa who knew Christina had understood much, much more than Lucinda gave her credit for. Alissa neared Christina slowly watching as she slowly lifted her head and tried to wipe away the tears Alissa had already seen. Alissa sat down beside Christina who latched onto her with a death grip.

"Aunt Lucinda scares you doesn't she?"

Christina let out a muffled cry as she buried her face in Alissa's shoulder.

"She won't hurt you, Butterfly. She's gone now,"

"She said mean things about Daddy," Christina sobbed.

"You know why that is?"

"Why?"

"Because your aunt doesn't understand love. Her heart is so consumed by hatred and sadness that there's no room for love, it's twisted her up inside. Your grandmother as evil as she may be , understands love. She loves you and me. Even Faybelle and Aunt Lucinda,"

"Really?"

"Yes, now why don't we have some lunch before I leave?"

"Okay,"

…...


Christina excelled in her magic studies. She thrived under her grandmother's watchful eye.

She would get up at eight every morning and go to the dining room where Maleficent would find her with a book open in front of her and a bowl of oatmeal pushed to the side. She would be so focused on what she was reading that she wouldn't notice Maleficent until she sat down beside her.

"What are you reading today?" Maleficent would ask with a small smile to which Christina would happily tell her about the spell she was reading about.

When noon rolled around Maleficent would dismiss Christina from lessons and allow her to play.

It was on one such day several weeks later that Maleficent found Christina in her room drawing. Maleficent eager to see what Christina had drawn entered and was surprised to see she had been drawing pair after pair after pair of wings. In all shapes sizes and colors. Christina smiled up at her when she finished her picture.

"That's pretty dear," Maleficent said softly as Christina climbed onto the bed.

"I have dreams where I can fly," Christina explained.

"Do you now?"

"Yes, one day I'll have wings of my own. Just like Mommy,"

"Maybe," Maleficent nodded as she joined Christina, "Did you know I had wings once?"

Christina's eyes grew wide as frying pans, "Really?"

"Yes, they were unlike any fairy wings you'd ever seen. They were so big they dragged behind me when I walked. They carried me higher and farther than any fairy before or after me,"

"What happened to them?"

"They were taken from me by a human thief who sought to become king. They were destroyed before I could get them back. That is why I cursed the Princess not because I was refused an invitation but because her father had wronged me. However, that's not the tale that was written into the Storybook of legends,"

Christina wrapped her arms around Maleficent. "I'm sorry,"

"It's alright dear, I've learned to live with it,"

"Excuse me mistress but someone's here to see you and he refuses to wait," one of Maleficent's servants cried as he rushed into the room.

Maleficent rolled her eyes she knew who waiting. She knew what he wanted.

"Christina, stay here and play with your toys okay?"

"Yes, ma'am,"

Christina gathered her crayons and pencils as Maleficent left. She was curious to see who'd arrived but she knew better than to disobey her grandmother. Besides, her mommy would be there soon to pick her up and she didn't want to upset her mommy. After cleaning up her mess she checked on Prince who she discovered had started hoarding shiny objects under her bed much to her amusement. The baby dragon licked her face as she lifted him from under the bed. He was healing just fine, even now Christina could tell that he would be able to fly again soon.

She carried Prince to the door and sat down to listen. She heard muffled voices. Three exactly. Her mother, Grandmother, and, a stranger. She couldn't exactly hear what they were saying but that didn't matter. She knew they were talking about her.

"Christina, please come here," her mother called.

"Coming,"

Christina opened the door and made her way to the main hall. Once there she ran to hug her mother completely ignoring the baffled stranger she'd passed.

"Headmaster Grimm, this is my granddaughter, Christina," Maleficent said with a smirk.

"But-but that child doesn't even have wings! She's no fairy!" Headmaster Grimm replied.

"I was born early," Christina shyly explained before hiding behind her mother.

"She is my daughter whether or not you believe me, Headmaster," Alissa added coolly.

"But, you have no children. The records say so and they never lie!" the headmaster sputtered.

"Mommy, am I in trouble?" Christina asked softly.

"No, you're not in trouble, Butterfly", Alissa reassured her. "This is Professor Grimm, Headmaster of Ever After High, where I went to school. Go say hello."

"Okay", Christina replied. She walked over to the man and held out her hand, smiling sweetly. "Hello, I'm Christina."

"Well hello, little..one?", he started to reply warmly when he noticed something strange and gasped slightly. "W-what a lovely smile you have, my dear."

"Thank you, sir. Mommy says I have Daddy's smile."
"I...see", he looked questioningly at Alissa, who smirked victoriously, as did Maleficent. "And where is your father?"

"Daddy...went to Heaven", the girl sniffed sadly.

"I see. I'm very sorry for your loss, young lady", Grimm told her.

"Why don't you go play with Prince and Diablo, my little love-bat? We'll call you for dinner", Maleficent told her.

"Ok, Grammy", Christina said stepping out of the room again but decided to hide just out of sight to listen in on the grown-ups.

"Before you even ask the first burning question I know have, her father was a vampire; Lord Radu of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Dracula", Alissa said, cutting off the Headmaster.

"I don't even want to know how a creature of Gothic Horror even came to the realm of Fairy Tales", Grimm said, exasperatedly rubbing his forehead. "But How did this happen? The records never lie!"

"They don't LIE, Headmaster", Alissa smirked. "But they CAN be DECEIVED. Mother helped me shroud my home and cloak it - and my family - from the records."

"B-b-b-but...WHY would you even want to do such a thing?"

"WHY?! You DARE to ask me WHY?!", Alissa exploded, "I did it so that my daughter could have a normal childhood. I did it so you wouldn't pester me about having a heir. I did it for Christina. So, she would be left ALONE,"

"Alissa, you know she has to attend school. Preparation is important you know,"

"She's doing just fine in her schooling at home," Alissa retorted.

Maleficent found herself laughing at just how easily they'd duped the headmaster for this long. Hiding Alissa's home,, and pregnancy. Hiding her child for six straight years had surprisingly been a piece of cake. Now, the queen of the dark fae stood laughing as her daughter continued to tear into the headmaster.

"I just knew you'd continue to hound me about this supposed destiny. I knew once I had a child you wouldn't stop. I just knew how you'd feel about her father so I took the precautions I needed to take.,"

Seeing Alissa so riled up was wickedly delightful for Maleficent.

"My daughter will decide her own destiny, and her own 'happily ever after' for herself!", Alissa said firmly. "If she chooses to be Good, I will back her choice completely; whether you like it or not!"

"B-b-b-b-b-but the Stories...!"

"Fayebelle, my other granddaughter, has already chosen to follow the darker path, Headmaster", Maleficent said with regal pride. "She will be more than capable of fulfilling the required roles in both stories."

"Th-th-that's beside the point!", Grimm sputtered. "If one rejects their preordained destiny, then others could as well! It could destroy our realm!"

Maleficent knew better. She knew of the Headmaster's reasoning for wanting to believe such an atrocious thing. But Maleficent knew it wasn't true.

"Well, I suppose that's your problem Headmaster, Good day," Maleficent said as two of her minions escorted the headmaster out.

With him gone, Alissa collapsed into the nearest armchair.

"Mother, you know he won't leave me alone now that he knows the truth and I don't want to send Christina to the local school. Do you have any idea what those kids would do to her?"

"Fear not my dear I have a plan,"

...


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