Le KH Fangirl, yes, Ripple effects will be another one-shot compilation. Mainly because the events covered all range in time period from decades before Captain America: The First Avenger all the way to a few years after Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The title of this chapter is a quote from the old early 2000's Disney show House of Mouse, said by Minnie when witnessing Hades and Maleficent on a date. Head's up, everyone, this chapter is going to be one of the shorter ones. 7 more chapters to go, my dear readers.
Episode 25: A Match Not Made In Heaven:
Interstellar Prison – Auditorium
August 25, 2015
Maleficent's skin was a darker shade of green than usual as she walked up the aisle of the prison's small auditorium towards the makeshift altar erected on the stage. The whiteness of her wedding dress didn't suit her personality. But once the ceremony and reception were concluded, she planned on changing back to her usual black robes as soon as possible. Up ahead, Hades stood, wearing a stylish tuxedo as he waited for her at the altar. In most weddings, the father of the bride was supposed to be the one walking her down the aisle, but since Maleficent's father had been dead for years, the Red Skull volunteered to fill the role in his stead.
The ceremony itself was practical and brief. Between their current living situation and the state of their collective finances, the Hellfire Club couldn't afford ostentatious decorations for its leader's wedding. Nevertheless, Maleficent's inner circle at least put some effort into making her and Hades' big day a festive one. As they exchanged vows, Maleficent couldn't help but feel at peace for the first time in decades. Her next attempt at conquest could fail for all she cared. She had a loving husband and a baby on the way. While her ambition to conquer remained, along with her recognizable viciousness, as long as she had Hades and their child she could accept any failure.
When Yzma (whose status as an empress – even a former one – qualified her to officiate the ceremony) told them to "hurry up and kiss already," the assembled members of the Hellfire Club cheered. Hades leaded forward and gave his new queen of the underworld the biggest kiss on the lips he could manage. As the party drifted into the nearby conference room for the reception. Which really ended up being just dinner that was moderately more fancy than usual. As the upper echelons of the club ranks ate, they all came up to where the newlyweds were seated at the head of the table and offered their congratulations.
When the reception finally ended, Mistress of All Evil and Lord of the Underworld went upstairs to their chambers together. Maleficent felt a rare moment of happiness as she rested her head against her new husband's chest later that night. After what had happened to her last marriage, her life had finally turned around. Now all she had to do was conquer the galaxy and she could die happy. The happiness she was feeling now would only be eclipsed the following morning when she found out what Cruella and Hook had gotten up to during the night.
Since this chapter is more about Maleficent's thoughts about her life, her trademark viciousness and ambition isn't as evident today. She's still the same villain we all know and love, I just like showing her thoughts on everything beneath her mask, particularly the backstory I came up with for her. For those who haven't read The Xehanort War, a cliffnotes version of Maleficent's backstory in that story would basically be the fairy equivalent of Magneto, combined with her "loss of her child because of people on the side of good" backstory from Once Upon A Time.
The Cruella and Hook bit at the end is a reference to a piece of fan-art (based on some source at Disney) depicting Dr. Facillier from The Princess and the Frog as the love-child of Captain Hook & Cruella De Vil. I thought the implication of those two getting together would be rather funny.
Next Chapter, Sora and Kairi finally head home to Destiny Islands, and Sora finally finds out about his relation to Ventus. Before anyone asks why that conversation didn't happen last chapter, it's because I wanted Sora's parents to be the one to explain it.