Mal could feel the forebodingness of Bald Mountain from miles away, a dark magic, similar to that of the magic pulsing through her veins right now, clinging to the rough stone as she dug her talons into the rock and scaled the last hundred feet before reached a small clearing on the top of the peak surrounded by more of that jagged rock. After finding it empty, she allowed herself to change back into her human form.

Her grip on the Dragon's Eye was the only thing keeping her upright as she staggered, the heavy magic use and sleeplessness making itself known. She blinked the dimness from her vision as she heard…two sets of footsteps approaching her. Mal forced herself upright and stiff, her hands tight around the worn wood as she tried to appear more ready than she actually was.

Diablo walked out first with a smile that didn't reach his black eyes, hands loosely clasped behind him. He stopped when he was feet from her, amusement in his eyes. "It's been a while Mal…"

"Not long enough Diablo." Mal narrowed her eyes, raising the scepter and aiming at his chest. The crystal began to glow green as the magic readied itself for the kill. Before the magic could release itself however, Mal was hit with a wave of…something that flung her into one of the many jagged structures surrounding them. Her body hit the ground and she only allowed herself a small grunt of pain as she adjusted her grip on the Dragon's Eye and pulled herself back onto her feet.

"You didn't really think I would come alone did you?"

A girl her age stood next to Diablo. She too had startlingly pale skin and black hair, but it was the pale green eyes that set it her apart. It was those eyes and the tight dress made of black feathers that finally gave Mal a name. "Morgan Le Fey."

She smiled. "Maleficent."

Ignoring Diablo's presence, Mal walked towards the girl. "Why are you here?" She spat.

Morgan raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest. "Revenge on King Arthur and Queen Guinevere of course." She laughed. "Killing you is just a bonus…that and tricking that horribly naïve King Benjamin."

Mal stopped breathing for a moment.

"Shame you won't see him again…he was such a good kisser."

"You lie!" She growled, eyes glowing green.

With a wave of her hand, her form shimmered for a moment and Mal felt like she was looking in a mirror. Morgan was now Mal, with violet hair and green eyes.

"Why would I say such a thing about Benny-Boo?" Even the voice sounded like hers…

She became sick to her stomach as she realized why Ben had been out past curfew, why he allowed someone to get so close to him without hesitation. But that would mean… "You stabbed him!"

"He was so surprised too…so betrayed." Morgan was herself again and she had pulled out a long wicked looking dagger. "I can't take all the credit though…Diablo showed me what to carve."

Mal's hold on her control vanished as she lunged for the girl, a wave of green flames knocking Morgan off her feet and into the far wall. Mal didn't give her even a second as another blast slammed her into the wall again, cracking the stone.

Morgan laughed as she got to her feet. "He even said he loved you..."

Mal screamed as she charged the girl, the scepter striking her head with a crack. Her lapse in control cost her as her feet were swept out from under her. Her head hit the stone hard, the sharp pain causing her to let go of the scepter. She watched Diablo pick up the scepter, only slightly surprised that the Dragon's Eye curse didn't knock him to the ground. All those years as her mother's second-in-command must have familiarized the scepter with his presence.

"Thank you Mal…now I will finish what I started." With a cold smile, he was quickly surrounded in a green mist that parted to reveal a large dragon very similar to her own.

"No!" Mal found herself being restrained by Morgan as Diablo took flight. She screamed in rage as she tried to pull herself free, a wordless wail that sent Morgan skidding away. She couldn't find the energy to get off her knees though.

"You're too late Mal…King Ben will be dead before sunset." Morgan was approaching her, knife raised with a sweet smile. "And now so will you."

Mal took a moment to evaluate her surroundings, mindful of the girl approaching her. She wasn't actually too far from the cliff's edge, which gave her an idea. Getting her feet, she moved with a speed she didn't know she had as she dodged the blade meant for her heart. Mal hissed in pain as the knife sliced deep into her side, but she ignored it and pulled on the wrist holding the knife, twisting Morgan until her back was facing the drop-off. Mal now held the blood covered blade to the girl's throat.

"I'm impressed Mal." Morgan appeared calm. "But you won't kill me."

"And why is that?" Mal asked, head cocked to the side.

"No one in Auradon will forgive you killing another…not when they could be saved. Not when they could be given a chance at a normal life." The last words were said with a mocking tone and she didn't wince as blood began to trickle down her neck.

Mal's hand remained steady as Ben's words were repeated back to her. She knew he didn't want her becoming like her mother, killing those who stood in the way of revenge, but she also knew Morgan wouldn't drop her vengeance and the only way to stop her from hurting others was to kill her. Morgan wasn't giving her any other option. I'm sorry Ben…

The dagger sank hilt deep into Morgan's chest before the girl could even get a word out, blood dripping from her lips as she staggered back with a shocked expression. Her last step backwards sent her tumbling from the cliff.

She could vaguely hear the thud of the body hitting the cliff a hundred feet below. Mal couldn't find it in herself to care at the moment, which should've scared her on some level, but all she think off was that Diablo got away. That he would reach Auradon Castle and burn it to the ground, along with anyone she'd ever cared for… Her darkening vision finally drew her attention to the deep gash in her side, blood dripping onto the stone as she pressed down on the wound. The sharp stab of pain of her action sent her to her knees before collapsing back onto the ground as everything around her dimmed to black.