Epilogue:

Once again, the thorn walls were torn down. The Moors had bloomed once more under the casting of Maleficent's spell and curse against Elwine and his followers. Moor Folk flooded back into the Moors, their homes rebuilt and their roles taken back up. The waters began to flow clear and sparkled under the sun's rays. The flowers bloomed in bright and vibrant colors, the dew falling from their petals and into the waters. The air smelled sweet and clean once more, no longer clouded with fear and confusion.

The councils of the three lands became one, though they all were sent to their homelands to see to their people's needs. They knew when to come together, but until then they had to know what the people and folk needed. Aurora and Phillip did a full check on their home council and made only a few changes while their land and people thrived in both Ulstead and Perceforest. Humans were able to come into and out of the Moors with help of Moor Folk and for small trades. There was no more stealing, no more bloodshed, just mutual understanding.

Surprisingly, the dwarves that had given them the weapons to defeat the Dark Fairies began to emerge from under the Moors. After their involvement was finally released, they were welcomed to any part of the kingdoms that they wished. They didn't have to hide any longer. Over half decided to stay in their home under the Moor land, but others finally walked above ground for a change.

The Dark Fey came back again to roost in the Moors. Their homes that they had begun to build before were finished and made permanent. The clan elders met with Aurora, Maleficent and the council to see to any needs, but they had found their homes and began to guard the Moors just as Maleficent had done on her own for years. Borra oversaw the training of the guardians under careful eye of the phoenix herself. Some of the Dark Fey even spread to the kingdoms outside of the Moors, to broaden their understanding and learn of the humans that they had learned to fear for so long. Shrike had been one of the first to settle outside of the Moors and in Ulstead to keep her bonding with Percival, which may move to a wedding and eventual claiming soon after.

At one of the tall peaks of the cliffs that over saw the Heart of the Moors and the Rowan tree, Maleficent stood at the ledge and looked over her home. She took a deep breath and basked in the calming and soothing sounds that floated up from the Moors.

"Happy to be home?" Diaval's voice asked from beside her ear as he leaned his head on her shoulder and over her wing.

"Ecstatic," she answered with a soft smile and turned around to look behind him, "You finished?"

Diaval looked behind him at the large nest that he had just finished building for them. It was nestled further into the curve of the cliff. It would not be touched by rain, or caught up in any wind that may pass through the higher cliffs and it definitely would be warm in the coming winter months. The nest was as large as the one that she had made in the pod in Ulstead, but this one had their memories. He had woven little mementos that he had either gathered or pilfered over the years into the branches and vines. Inside the nest were furs and material that made the nest plush and comfortable.

"It's as big as the one from our departed pod, but I added a few things to spiff it up," he said proudly and pointed to the nest, "This is the best one you will ever find."

"It is beautiful, Diaval," she walked to the nest and ran a finger or two over a few of the trinkets that he put into the branches. She turned back to him and held out her closed hand, "I wanted to give you something."

"When you have already given me so much?" he asked, but held out his hand anyway.

"I wanted to replace the one that we destroyed," she explained and opened her hand to show him a ring. They had taken the one that he had used and destroyed it with any of the others that they could find. One, they were sure was washed away when the river was reopened, but the others were melted down and destroyed by the dwarves who were more than happy to help. This new ring was made from the ore of the deep mines of the dwarves themselves, seeped in the magic of the Moors. The soft metal wove around itself much like the vines and roots of the trees, except at the top where it took shape of a raven's wing.

"It's a beautiful shiny, but I have enough magic," he reminded her. Now that peace ruled, he was happy to give up the ring as her magic still flowed through him. He may not be able to produce fireballs or instantly call on items or the earth like he used to, but he still had his shape shifting abilities. Not to mention his glorious wings. He was not going to complain when he had been blessed with so much more than a single raven would ever want.

"I know, but I do miss our training sessions and there is so much more to discover," she urged him and dropped the ring into his hand, "Try it on."

He did as she asked and put it on his ring finger. He felt the familiar rush of her magic, but also the magic that he continually felt from the Moors now rushed to meet with her magic already alive in him. He huffed out a surprised gasp, "Was not expecting that."

"Now we are able to explore a few new things," she announced and flicked her hand to show off a very similar, almost identical ring on her own hand. Instead of a raven wing, it was a small copy of her own that curled around a small green stone. She smiled and walked back toward the ledge as she raised her brows at him, "Shall we take a look at what the day brings us?"

"I think I may try something," he walked just past her at the very edge of the ledge. He opened his wings wide and smiled with a cheeky grin, "See if you can catch me now."

With a step backwards he dove from the cliff and spread his wings to catch the air under him.

Maleficent chuckled at him and too jumped off from the ledge and followed him toward the clouds.

END