The palace was decorated for the big engagement party. Important people came from all over the kingdom and also from neighboring countries.
In her bedroom, Aurora got dressed with fairy godmothers' help. After a long discussion between Flora and Merryweather about the color of the dress, the two finally entered into an agreement: blue with pink flowers.
Over her head, a golden crown with a veil that falls over the hair neatly braided. Around the neck, a necklace of gold and sapphires. She was really dressed like a princess.
(Flora) "How beautiful you are!"
(Merryweather ) "A beautiful princess!"
(Fauna) "Philip'll love. He is the luckiest man on earth."
Her eyes filled with tears and Fauna hastened to give her a handkerchief.
"See how she's thrilled. Please, darling, don't smudge your makeup!"
They never imagined that Aurora felt like she had a thorn gradually being spiked in her heart. No, she didn't want to marry that man somehow. There was no more love, if it ever was.
But she was trapped. The fairies had told her that the marriage was going to prevent the Philip' kingdom was invaded and conquered. If that happened, the conquering king would be stronger and also invade her kingdom, which could be a tragedy.
That was why Aurora didn't dare protest. It wasn't fair everybody suffer with a war because of her sorrows. So the only alternative was offer herself in sacrifice on behalf of kingdom and live forever condemned to hiding her sadness and loneliness.
When they saw Aurora was ready, the fairies withdrew to give her some time alone. Oscar came out from his hiding and landed on her lap, looking at his owner sadly. He was the one who actually understood her suffering.
"I'd die right now if I could! Marry this asshole is the worst curse to me!"
The little dragon spit fire showing the same indignation that the princess. He'd love burn the back of that idiot! But there was nothing to be done. Her sentence was final.
Everything was ready and Maleficent didn't want to wait. It was time to show all those idiots who gave the rules.
"My victory awaits me." Out of habit, she looked at the shoulder just to remember the crow was no longer with her. That blue fairy had turned him in stone and she couldn't reverse the spell because it had been too long. "A little of it is for you, my dear."
Night was falling and she knew the party had already started. All the guests were gathered, as well as the fairies and the royal family.
"Well, I must hasten. It's not polite to be late!"
"Princess Aurora has arrived!" A voice announced when the princess entered the Great Hall followed by the fairies. Everyone looked amazed and enraptured with such beauty, whose fame traveled several kingdoms. Yes, she was so beautiful and wonderful as the stories told. No one was disappointed.
Philip looked at her also admired and feeling victorious. He was on top of the world and nothing was going to stop him. A beautiful wife, a rich and prosperous kingdom, power and wealth. What more could he want?
Aurora smiled at everyone, internally feeling a huge urge to scream and slap Philip furiously. No, a princess shouldn't do such things. It was up to her to sacrifice for the good of everyone. She sat in the third seat, next to the Queen. The orchestra played a beautiful song and everyone enjoyed gladly, unaware that their happiness was due to the princess's sacrifice.
"Are you fine, honey?" Merryweather asked serving some wine. Fauna held a tray containing fruits and Flora shook with a fan. All fairies surrounded her suffocatingly, ensuring that she was happy at any cost. Aurora didn't answer anything but breathing hard as if had a huge weight on her chest.
At one point in the party, the king stood up. The orchestra stopped playing and all eyes turned to the royal family. Philip approached the throne and waited for the announcement.
"My loyal subjects, allies and friends! Right now I want to announce the marriage of my daughter Princess Aurora with Prince Philip!"
Applause and congratulations came from everywhere. When there was silence again, the king continued.
"The wedding will be in six months, exactly! Nothing brings us more joy and pride than to see these two youths united in marriage! From this day on, our kingdoms will live in peace and harmony!"
More applause while Aurora just felt like dying. It was a fair sacrifice for everyone? Why so much weight had to fall on her shoulders? A nudge of Flora brought her back to reality and she stood up to see that Philip had approached the throne.
He took her hand and kissed gently, causing her shivers of disgust. The music rang again and Philip led her to the middle of the hall where the guests made room for couple dancing.
Then a great wind blew everywhere erasing the candles and dropping embellishments. It was a cold wind that caused chills. In the center of the room a green light appeared and grew to materialize in the worst nightmare of all.
The king stood up with wide eyes, the fairies panicked and Philip froze with fear. Heavens, not again! Aurora only watched everything with curiosity, feeling no fear or apprehension.
"Ah, what have we here? What a beautiful party!" A voice spoke calmly and menacingly. "And I see that once again, I wasn't invited. How careless you are!"
Aurora stared, mesmerized by the tall and powerful woman who had materialized in the middle of the hall. Maleficent also saw her and the two looked at each other for a few seconds.
"What are you doing here? How dare you?" The king said trying to hide the fear. She looked away from Aurora and answered keeping the firm and defiant stance.
"After so much time away, aren't you glad to see me?" She said walking at slow and steady steps toward the throne.
Aurora couldn't look away. That woman inspired a mixture of fear and fascination, it was difficult to define. Only her presence intimidated everyone. However, her appearance was very different from that showed in that book and she had absolutely sure that everyone had lied about many things.
Fairies come between her and the thrones and Flora said.
"You still want to torment us?"
"I? Imagine! No, I just came to settle some things. By the way... where is the fiancé? Ah, there he is! Let's talk a bit. Outside!"
Maleficent threw a thunderbolt against Philip, making him disappear into thin air. She also disappeared, leaving everyone terrified. Only Aurora felt happy and hoped he was gone forever.
"Outside! A huge dragon!" All ran out, including Aurora.
In the courtyard of the palace, Philip trembled with fear at the huge black and purple dragon stood before him.
"What is it, prince?" One voice, which was a mixture of female voice with something monstrous, said. "Where's your courage? Don't want to give me the pleasure of this rematch? C'mon, fight!"
"No, please! Let's talk!" He screamed terrified. "Somebody help me!"
The fairies were placed in front of him and Flora shouted angrily.
"You evil, how dare you ruin our party?"
"Out of the way, for now the matter is with him!"
"No way, we'll defend him at all costs!"
Aurora watched all feeling in the middle of a strange dream. She felt no fear, distress or anxiety.
"What are you scared? He didn't beat me once? Then he can repeat the feat without problems, right?"
"Please, prince! Kill this dragon!" Someone in the crowd asked and soon everyone was asking him to fight.
"Yes, kill the dragon!" Maleficent said sarcastically. "Fight!"
A green fire was shot toward the young man who jumped terrified trying to escape the flames. "Fight!"
Seeing that there was no other option, the fairies gave him again the shield and enchanted sword. Without that, he would have no chance.
"You have done enough. Now get out of my face!" The dragon flapped her wings, throwing away the fairies. Philip held the arms trembling of fear. Then he had to go through that nightmare again? He had barely endured the previous!
An unpleasant flashback crossed his mind and he remembered the fear felt when went to the cabin that Aurora had indicated to him only to be captured by horrific creatures and a wicked fairy. After he fled the castle with much difficulty thanks to the good fairies, who also helped him through the forest of thorns and finally defeat the dragon. Alone, he wouldn't have done anything.
Another blast of fire was shot and he protected himself with shield.
"Won't you use your sword? It is very powerful! What's up? Are you afraid?"
The dragon stood in front of him and he decided not to waste time. If he could do it once, so could do another. Without thinking twice, he threw sword against the dragon staring right in her chest. Maleficent knew she was taking a big risk because if the sword hit her, it was the end of everything. She would die again and so never have the respect of anyone. The sword seemed to fly in slow motion towards her. What had actually happened? Nor did she tell. For a moment, she lost concentration to see Aurora in the crowd. Why that insipid princess distracted her that way?
This little distraction was enough for her dragon paws couldn't handle the sword, which inveighed against her chest. It was the end of it! Everybody gave a scream, Philip almost tore his hair and the fairies took her hands to her mouth to contain an exclamation of horror. A few inches of the heart, the sword struck against something and fell to the ground as if it had been burned.
If that surprised Maleficent, the surprise was even greater for other people, especially the fairies. She soon recovered her presence of mind and laughed.
"You idiot! Did you really thought you could defeat me this time? Of course not! This is to show I am powerful and invincible! I have overcome death and I'm stronger than ever! Now, where were we? Oh, yes!"
She attacked Philip again, spitting fire and trying to stomp him. Nobody had the courage to react. If he, the great hero, couldn't face that beast, then nobody could.
Seeing she was reaching her goal, Maleficent decided to execute the next step of the plan to giving a strong kick knocking Philip to the ground. The shield fell away and she held him in her claws. He screamed, cried and begged for his life.
"What did you said? Speak louder, I can't hear. Shut up!" She growled at the crowd and then ordered shaking him hard. "Do you want die like a warrior or live like a coward? Choose!"
"No, please, I don't wanna die!"
"So why you had the audacity to face me?"
"The fairies! They forced me! It's all their fault! I have nothing against you, please don't kill me!"
It was the most pathetic thing in the world and Aurora shook her head. She already knew he was an idiot, weak and cowardly. But having it wide open in front of everyone was regrettable. Well... she didn't cared one bit. After that sad scene, the wedding was canceled forever.
"Do you beg for your life?"
"I beg you, please! I'll do anything! Don't kill me! Look, kill Aurora! You wanted to curse her the whole time, didn't you? Look her right there!"
For a moment, Maleficent felt the urge to crush him really. Okay that she wanted to humiliate the idiot in front of everyone, but that act of cowardice was one of the lowest things he could have done.
"You're so pathetic I won't dirty my hands with your nasty blood! You're worthless! So I'll let you live with this shame. The choice was made. You'll live like a coward!"
She released him and he ran away crying like a child. The whole crowd booed and threw things against that cowardly prince.
The smile of satisfaction from Aurora' face to see that idiot being humiliated wasn't unnoticed by Maleficent, but she had other things to do.
"This was so fun! I guess I should thank my hosts!" She said turning her attention to the king and queen. At that time, Aurora awoke from her torpor. Humiliate Philip was good, but she would not allow that dragon hurt her parents.
