Six: Complications

Nela

I slammed the door open.

Narcissa was tending a fire, her golden hair dancing in the firelight. She turned around abruptly and gasped, her pink lips parting. She just stared at me for the longest time.

"What?" I snarled, annoyed. "Haven't you ever seen me before?"

"Dearie!" Narcissa stood up, dusted off her dress, and tucked her hair behind her ears. "It's so nice to see you again, Nela! Welcome!"
I glared at her and raised my staff. "Call me Maleficent. What do you not understand, Narcissa?"
Narcissa drew a shaky breath. "Welcome, Maleficent. Would you sit down?"
I looked around at the familiar furniture, and sat down. Narcissa sat down with me.

"Where are the others?" I asked Narcissa.

She shrugged. "Doing their usual things. So…what brings you here, dearie?"
"Don't call me that," I said quietly. "It makes me sound so….helpless."
Narcissa bit her lip and lowered her gaze. "Whatever you say, Maleficent."

I sat down and pushed a heap of black hair out of my eyes. I blinked at Narcissa. "I need your help."
Narcissa let out a long breath. "Technically, I'm not supposed to help you. You sent a kill curse upon a newborn Royal. That goes against every rule we Seven have."
I gritted my teeth. "I'm not asking for help as Maleficent. I'm asking for help as….Nela."

Narcissa sighed, and her eyes glimmered. "Honey, I can't make you beautiful like you were before. I'm so sorry."

I shook my head. "I don't care about being beautiful anymore. It doesn't matter to me now. What I want is a potion."
Narcissa's eyes widened. "A beauty potion, you mean?"
"No." I toyed with my slender pale green fingers. "I mean, a love potion."
Narcissa blinked. "You want someone to fall in love with you?" She gasped. "Phillip?"
I nodded. "But not with me. I want Phillip to fall in love with Aurora."
Narcissa shook her head. "But I thought you hated Aurora. That's why you cursed her."
"You SIMPLETON!" I howled, standing up. "This is who you always were! Such a fool! You can't understand a single iota of the plans I make! They're way to complicated for a small mind like you. Even if you try, you won't understand. I asked for a love potion sincerely, not as Maleficent, but as an old friend and part of the Eight. Now will you just give me the LOVE POTION, NARCISSA?"
Narcissa just stared in shock. Then she got up. "You are not the girl you were."
I rolled my eyes. "Thank you, for that, Captain Obvious."
Narcissa pulled out her pot, removed a pink vial from a shelf, and shook it. "I'll make you a love potion, but promise me you won't do anything to sabotage Phillip and Aurora's marriage."

I smiled. "I won't."

Narcissa sighed and dumped a bunch of vials in different rosy shades into the pot and stirred. It bubbled and boiled, and at last, she ladled some into a small glass container.

"A word of caution," she said softly. "This potion will lose its effect at midnight, no matter what time of day you consume it. If you drink this at eleven, it'll go out at midnight. If you drink it at one minute to midnight, it will still go out."

"Alright," I said, stroking my chin. "That seems easy enough a rule to follow. Any other words of caution, Narcissa?"
Narcissa shook her head. "Nothing else. It's a fairly simple potion."
I nodded. "Thank you, Nar!"
"Remember!" Narcissa called. "You promised, Maleficent. No sabotaging the royal wedding, remember?"
I pocketed the glass vial and turned around slowly, poising just outside the door. "Oh, yeah, about that promise," I purred.

Narcissa's normally gentle eyes turned angry. "What about the promise?" she hissed at me.

I smiled coldly, and leaped into the air, getting ready to soar. "I lied."

"What?" Narcissa shouted. "You can't—"

"I'm a monster now, remember?" I reminded Narcissa with a evil little laugh. "I can do whatever I want."

Narcissa was shaking. "So you will sabotage the royal wedding?"
I flew away, the wind in my face, whipping my hair back. She was not my master. I am my own master, and I have a plan to fulfill—if I ever want to get back to my normal form.

I turned back to see Narcissa standing there, pretty and small and delicate and weak, like a flower. I waggled my fingers cruelly at her. "I do whatever I want."
"You won't get away with it!" Narcissa screamed.

"Sure I will," I called back. "I always do. I'm Maleficent."

James

The sun came up, and I was looking for Aurora.

I was not stalking her, I prefer intense research of an individual. I had really liked Aurora since she was little. She just seemed so perfect. And she was a princess. But I was just a poor stable boy, and my father was a chimney cleaner. And my mother dead from malaria. But I still longed to have Aurora like me.

But since she was a child, she always liked Prince Phillip. Of course she did. He was handsome and strong and brave and a prince.

Today I saw her sitting on the windowsill, singing a ballad from Romeo and Juliet.

I walked up to her, careful not to to let His or Her Highness see me fraternize with the princess.
I walked up to her casually. "Aurora?"

She turned, and I realized my mistake. "Princess Aurora?"
She smiled at me. "Hello, James! How are you?"
I smiled back. The moment of truth. I'd ask her on a date this afternoon. "I heard about your date with Prince Phillip yesterday," I told her. "How was it?"
Aurora bit her lip. "It was fine. But I decided not to pursue a relationship with Phillip."
My eyes almost fell out of my head. "Really?"
Aurora nodded. "He's not exactly my type. I like my type who appreciates everything about me, and wants to do things that I also like to do."
My heart started pounding. This was the best day of my life. "Princess?" I asked her timidly.

Aurora hummed in response.

"Would you like to go horseback riding in the countryside with me this evening?"
Aurora smiled with pleasure, showing her perfect white teeth. "Why, James! It would be my pleasure!"
I smiled. "Wonderful."
Aurora gave me a teasing smile. "Perhaps we can search for Princess Buttercup!"
I laughed. "Perhaps."
Aurora poked me. "It would be great fun."
"Yes."
"So can we?"
"Whatever you want, Princess!"
Aurora got off the windowsill. "I must go choose a dress for our date, James. I will see you at six, in front of the stables?"
I beamed. "Absolutely. It's a date!"

Aurora skipped off in the other direction.

I shook my head. "I didn't even tell her it was a date! I didn't have to beg her! She assumed, I tell you, she assumed! Good man, James! I knew you had it in you, you old rascal, you! You and the princess, just imagine!" I punched my fist in the air. "That'll show that boring, thickheaded ninny of a prince, Phillip!"
"What are you doing."

I turned.

Phillip stood there, shaking his head.

"Oh, hello!" I yelped. "How are you this dine fay? I mean, this fine day!"
Phillip raised one eyebrow slowly.

"I was just…I mean I wasn't talking to myself! I was talking to….this plant. Her name is….Jilly! Good day, Jilly!"

Phillip slowly raised the other eyebrow.

I smacked him on the arm. "So….what's up?"
Phillip just stared, then lowered both his eyebrows.

I laughed nervously. "You are an eyebrow magician! They're like ocean waves!"
Phillip raised his eyebrows again. "You have a date with Aurora?"
I burst out laughing hysterically. "Well—it's not a—of course not—why would I—how would you—I thought she—but we have a—yeah."

Phillip lowered his eyebrows again. "But why? You and Aurora? Just doesn't seem to fit."

I elbowed in the ribs and wiggled my eyebrows.

"Stop that," said Phillip.

"Are you jealous?" I taunted Phillip. "Is that it, Unicorn Boy? You jealous? You mad, friend, you mad? You know what, buddy boy? I'll tell you the truth. You don't deserve Aurora. You're boring, and depressing, and she's bright and exciting. And you're fat."

"I work out!" Phillip exclaimed indignantly. "I'm not fat!"
"You're gonna be just like big daddy!" I exclaimed, my voice growing shrill. "This is you, Phillie, in two years. 'Daddy, daddy, carry me to the bathroom, because I'm too fat to roll down the hallway.'"

Phillip shook his head. "You're done, man. No more alcohol for you."
I grabbed his shirt collar. "You wanna fight? You wanna fight?"
Phillip pushed him off. "I will kill you. Listen, you treat Aurora, well, alright?"
I got up in his face. "What's it to you?"
Phillip stared at me. "I'm—her—sort of, kind of brother."
I reeled back. "You are?"
Phillip shrugged. "Yeah, man."
I blushed. "Oh, sorry, then. You're not fat, Phillie. And you're not depressing. Don't worry, you won't be as fat as Hubert."
Phillip growled. "Don't call me Phillie."

I laughed nervously. "I—I—I'm sorry, man. I'll see you later, then."

Phillip nodded. "Alright. Get some help."
I nodded. "I will."
Phillip turned around, heading in the other direction. "Good. You're gonna need it."

I rubbed my hands together. "Everything is going according to plan! During our horseback session, Aurora will fall off the horse, I'll catch her, and she'll kiss me!"
Phillip turned. "Would you shut up?"

Seven: The Date

Phillip

The sky was turning orange.

The two horses were trotting through the fields. Aurora, wearing a beautiful gray silk gown, sat on the black horse, and James, wearing a patched suit, sat on a white horse, and they were riding,and talking. Occasionally, James would laugh so hard he'd snort.

I was riding Samson and following the pair. Making sure nothing bad would actually happen. Just because of these mixed emotions I was having. Sure, James was much more suitable for Aurora, and I definitely did not like her, but I really just wanted to make sure nothing actually happened.

James, the matchmaker.

Anyway, I was following them, and Samson was whining for carrots.

"Shut up,Samson," I told him. He glared at me.

"Don't you glare at me," I said angrily. "None of this is my fault. It's James' problem. I'm here to make sure nothing actually happened."
Samson gave me a sarcastic look and moved on ahead.

I saw James make his horse bump into Aurora's, and suddenly, with a scream, she fell into a patch of mud right up ahead.

Beautiful. He's a failure at life.

I strode forward, guiding Samson. Suddenly, James jumped off his horse and slid under Aurora, catching her neatly. But then his knees buckled and he fell on top of her.

With a shriek, she shoved him off, and then the two of them began laughing hysterically, sitting there waist deep in mud.

I guided Samson forward awkwardly, feeling like the third wheel.

Suddenly, Samson reared up as a mouse streaked across the path in front of him, and I fell forward, landing with a splash in the mud next to them.

Of course, through their laughter, they paid no heed to me.

I sat there, dripping, and suddenly, they both turned serious.

James began to talk. "I know I'm just a lowly stable boy, Princess Aurora," he said in a soft voice I didn't know he was capable of. "But what I want for you is a good life. And I promise you'll have that with me."
"What?" I protested, flabbergasted.

James took Aurora's mud covered hands. "And I'm not asking you to feel the same way, but I love you. I just needed to tell you that."

Aurora smiled. "Oh, but Jamie, I do feel the same way!"

"Oh, come on!" I exclaimed.

Aurora fell on top of James and they kissed. I felt awkward, but glared. They kept kissing, their lips merging together.

I just watched them like a fool.

Finally, Aurora's eyes fluttered open. She rested her gaze on me for a moment, then choked. She tore her lips from James'. "Phillip?" she cried.

I smiled. "I wasn't sitting here long."
James turned. "Phil? What're you doing here, man?"
I shrugged. "Just passing through the countryside on my horse. Samson." I turned. Samson was nowhere in sight.

Well, I love you too, Samson.

James creased his brow. "Do you need help?"

I just kept smiling. "I'm fine. Is this mud warm to you?"
Aurora made a face and got out of the mud.

I just sat there.

"Did you fall and hit your head?" asked James gently.

I smiled. "Nope."
James rolled his eyes. "I was talking to Aurora."
I smiled, but my smile was cold. "Of course."

"I'm alright," Aurora said. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Let's get rid of him."
"I'm right here," I exclaimed.

"Yeah, but he's a prince," James said quietly. "If we get rid of him, we're bound to get in trouble."
I threw my arms into the air. "I'm still here! I haven't moved in the last five seconds!"
James shook his head. "Aurora, our date's over because Phil here crashed it."
I scowled. "Well, pardon me for trying to take a mud bath."

"Yes, pardon you!" James yelled.

"Guys, please," Aurora begged.

"You've ruined my life!" James howled.

"You big baby!" I yelled back.

James smiled sarcastically. "You're twenty one, Phillip and all you can call me is a big baby?"
I nodded. "I'm older and wiser."
James shook his head. "I'm dating the prettiest princess in the land while you're sitting in a ditch of mud. Everyone left you. Even your horse."
"Hey!" I cried. "Don't bring Samson into this! He is disobedient and disrespectful!"

"Phillip, try to be a little mature," Aurora said calmly.

I got up. "I am mature! Stop yelling at me, stop yelling at me!"
"Stop howling," James said, rolling his eyes. "And get a life!"
"I have a life! I am the prince!"
James patted his horse. "Come on."
I began to climb on.

James narrowed his eyes and shoved me off. "Not you. My girlfriend."

Aurora smiled sympathetically. "Sorry, Prince Phillip," she said. "You can have my horse."
As James and Aurora rode off into the sunset, I stared at the black horse. He began to munch my hair. I just stared at the fairytale couple that just left me.

If Aurora wasn't my princess, then who was?
I only wish I knew.

When I got home, it was very late. I brought the horse into the stables and entered the palace. When I walked into my room, I looked at the clock.

The clock bonged loudly, eerily.

It was midnight.