Maleficent sighed as she walked alone, her mind replaying what Diaval had told her over in her mind.
She couldn't deny it any longer, she loved the girl, however, she would not go to her.
No.
Aurora could make whatever choices she wished, after all, she had already cost the girl so much. She would not take her freedom too.
She had nearly reached the heart of the moors when a sensation came over her, something looming and dark that caused her to instantly go alert.
Something was wrong, terribly wrong.
Aurora found that she understood why some of the fair folk had been so skittish when she saw the level of distraction that seemed to grow around the moor.
Had this been what Maleficent had meant when she had mentioned a history between human and Fae?
Had man sought to destroy the far just for the sake of riches that lay in the enchanted lands?
Had her father been one such person?
"Maybe you should go. This isn't your fight." She found herself telling Philip, who just gave her a look.
"No. You want to help and this is something no one should have to try to do alone. Tell me what to do and I'll do it."
He responded and Aurora found herself unable to argue.
"Just be careful where you step. Wouldn't want to step on someone and offer to help if you see anything struggling."
The iron burned into her flesh as it tightened around her, draining her stamina and making the world seem hazy.
Instinct told her to use her last bit of power to kill this threat, to end this. However, seeing Diaval struggling nearby she focused the last of her energy into a spell.
"Into a dragon."
It only took an instant for the chain to be jerked from Stefan's grip and loosened around her, though the wounds would remain for well over a day at least.
Then there was more fire as the raven turned dragon took aim at the group that Stefan had brought with him.
Getting to her feet despite the pain, she turned toward the man that she had once trusted above all else.
The other odd one out amongst his people.
"How does it feel, being a wingless fairy? To be powerless?"
He sneered as he approached her, something metallic glistening in his left hand as it reflected the flames.
She could hear Diaval let out a shriek and saw that one of his wings had been pierced through.
Could feel her heart racing as instinct told her to do something she could no longer do.
She couldn't give up.
She wouldn't.
Then in a sudden flash of intense heat and light, she felt something burn into her spine and along with it, it seemed that some of her strength returned.
When the light faded she saw the fear in Stefan's eyes and felt the weight along her shoulders.
Wings.
She realized.
It only took her a moment to charge him then, her grip around his throat as she pinned him against a large, smothering Oak.
Oh how easy it would ve to end him there. To finally seek vengeance against the man who had promised her so much only to rob her of everything.
But she wouldn't, if only for Aurora's sake.
"It's over. Go back to Aurora."
She snarled, letting him drop, although he charged again, the iron dagger he wielded barely missing her side as she dodged.
Again and again he attacked, each blow becomingly more and more desperate as the flames grew larger around them.
Flying up, she glanced over to where Diaval stood, battered but alive.
The flames would not harm a dragon however, if she did not end this soon both herself and Stefan would be at risk.
She could feel the forest around her in distress, could feel the very pulse of magic from the fauna fading.
Maleficent sighed as she walked alone, her mind replaying what Diaval had told her over in her mind.
She couldn't deny it any longer, she loved the girl, however, she would not go to her.
No.
Aurora could make whatever choices she wished, after all, she had already cost the girl so much. She would not take her freedom too.
She had nearly reached the heart of the moors when a sensation came over her, something looming and dark that caused her to instantly go alert.
Something was wrong, terribly wrong.
Aurora found that she understood why some of the fair folk had been so skittish when she saw the level of distraction that seemed to grow around the moor.
Had this been what Maleficent had meant when she had mentioned a history between human and Fae?
Had man sought to destroy the far just for the sake of riches that lay in the enchanted lands?
Had her father been one such person?
"Maybe you should go. This isn't your fight." She found herself telling Philip, who just gave her a look.
"No. You want to help and this is something no one should have to try to do alone. Tell me what to do and I'll do it."
He responded and Aurora found herself unable to argue.
"Just be careful where you step. Wouldn't want to step on someone and offer to help if you see anything struggling."
The iron burned into her flesh as it tightened around her, draining her stamina and making the world seem hazy.
Instinct told her to use her last bit of power to kill this threat, to end this. However, seeing Diaval struggling nearby she focused the last of her energy into a spell.
"Into a dragon."
It only took an instant for the chain to be jerked from Stefan's grip and loosened around her, though the wounds would remain for well over a day at least.
Then there was more fire as the raven turned dragon took aim at the group that Stefan had brought with him.
Getting to her feet despite the pain, she turned toward the man that she had once trusted above all else.
The other odd one out amongst his people.
"How does it feel, being a wingless fairy? To be powerless?"
He sneered as he approached her, something metallic glistening in his left hand as it reflected the flames.
She could hear Diaval let out a shriek and saw that one of his wings had been pierced through.
Could feel her heart racing as instinct told her to do something she could no longer do.
She couldn't give up.
She wouldn't.
Then in a sudden flash of intense heat and light, she felt something burn into her spine and along with it, it seemed that some of her strength returned.
When the light faded she saw the fear in Stefan's eyes and felt the weight along her shoulders.
Wings.
She realized.
It only took her a moment to charge him then, her grip around his throat as she pinned him against a large, smothering Oak.
Oh how easy it would ve to end him there. To finally seek vengeance against the man who had promised her so much only to rob her of everything.
But she wouldn't, if only for Aurora's sake.
"It's over. Go back to Aurora."
She snarled, letting him drop, although he charged again, the iron dagger he wielded barely missing her side as she dodged.
Again and again he attacked, each blow becomingly more and more desperate as the flames grew larger around them.
Flying up, she glanced over to where Diaval stood, battered but alive.
The flames would not harm a dragon however, if she did not end this soon both herself and Stefan would be at risk.
She could feel the forest around her in distress, could feel the very pulse of magic from the fauna fading.
She had to leave.
She gave him one more chance, one last command to return home but upon another attempted attack, she arose and inevitably fueled the flames around her.
Diaval watched as Maleficent landed, obviously still in pain from the iron snare.
She seemed lost in thought, eyes trained ahead of them as though staring at a hidden enemy.
"It was not your fault you know. You gave the fool man plenty of chances to leave."
He risked saying as he walked, only to earn a look from the fairy.
"I only regret the outcome for Aurora's sake. He ceased being the boy I knew long ago."