Half an hour earlier:
Maleficent's thoughts were interrupted by the doors to the throne room slamming open. She looked up, prepared to punish whichever servant blatantly disobeyed her orders only to see Alissa and Radu. Was this brought on by lack of sleep? Had she allowed the memories to grab her again?
But, this couldn't have been the case. Alissa had scars all over her arms.
Iron scars.
"Alissa!" Maleficent ran to embrace her daughter, "You're alive! I-I thought-"
Alissa pulled away from her mother, "I want to see my daughter"
"Of course," Maleficent nodded, "Fetch her," she ordered Diaval.
When Christina arrived Alissa waited no time in embracing her but Christina showed no shock or confusion walking out of the room as quickly and calmly as she'd entered.
Alissa turned to her mother, "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything"
"Didn't do anything? Then explain that! Then explain why she's acting like you!"
"Alissa," Radu rested his hand on her shoulder, "Please, let's just hear your mother out"
"I know it wasn't your intention to send Christina here just as it was never my intention to raise a mini-me, she truly isn't, dear she just quiet"
"I find that very hard to believe," Alissa huffed.
"Come with me," Maleficent said, "I'll show you"
…...
Christina speed-walked to her tower, bolting the door behind her before sitting in the nearest chair. With a wave of her hand, the shutters flew open letting the sun in. Grabbing her spellbook Christina began flipping through it in hopes of distraction only to find none.
My parents? No, they can't be my parents! Grammy would have known if they were alive. She would have done something!
Confused, scared, and, worried Christina sank to the floor, hiding her face in her hands.
…...
"This is her room," Maleficent pushed open the door.
Even after all the time that passed Christina's room was still painted with pastel colors. Rose pink and lavender. Alissa opened her mouth to argue but Maleficent put her hand up, moving to the adjoining library.
"See anything you recognize?
"That's my quilt and my portrait and my sketchbook" everywhere Alissa looked she found her things decorating the room, well kept and loved.
"I am not raising her to be me, Alissa I am raising her to be herself even if she takes after me," Maleficent explained softly, "She is who she wants to be and no one else"
"Why are you in here?"
Christina stood behind them, arms crossed over her chest with a questioning look.
"I was showing them your room, dear," Maleficent explained, "Are you alright?"
"No, but I don't wish to talk about it"
"Promise we'll talk when you're ready?"
"I promise, Grandmother"
Satisfied with the answer, Maleficent led Alissa and Radu from the room.
Once the door had shut, Christina ordered her mirror to show her Melinda who she promptly grabbed by the shoulders, hauling her into the room.
"What the hex, Christina?" Melinda snapped, "I think you gave me whiplash!"
Christina didn't respond, hands still gripping Melinda.
"Are you okay?"
Christina spun her friend to face the mirror just as it cleared again to show Maleficent and...
"Aren't those your parents, Christina?"
"I don't know,"
"How can you NOT know?"Melinda all-but-yelled, "THAT," she pointed sharply at the glass, Is your mother, SEE? SEE? SEE?" she pointed to the painting hanging beside the mirror.
"Must you be so loud? Lay off the rock music would you?"
"This is not the time to question my taste in music, now is the time to reunite with your parents!'
"Melinda-"
"Christina"
"Look," Melinda pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'll be back after classes, okay? We can sit down and talk just don't hide all day long"
"No promises"
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Be my best friend?"
"If I have to, see you later"
"Later, Melinda"
…...
"Let's give her some time," Maleficent whispered once in the hall, "We have some catching up to do"
"Let me make one thing clear," Alissa said as they walked away, "I will not allow you to force my child into signing that blasted book"
"She was never going to, Alissa, she doesn't even attend Ever After High"
"So she's homeschooled then?"
"No, she attends the Fairy Academy, I remember how you loved it there, Christina does as well though I suspect something or someone there caused her to grow so quiet, she used to be such a talkative child, hardly stopping to take a breath"
"Then vhy isn't she in school now?"
"Gap year, a tradition among the upper classes," Alissa explained, recalling her middle school years.
"She's doing very well in her studies"
"So we've seen," Alissa muttered bitterly.
"Seen?"
"The reason for my scars, I tried to keep an eye on Christina, every time we've seen her she's practicing magic"
"She loves to learn, nothing excites her more," Maleficent smiled, "But I'd rather talk about you now, I couldn't sense you, couldn't find you, I thought you were dead"
"I suspect it was the spells around Regina's castle"
"You can't mean the queen she's still imprisoned?"
"No," Alissa sighed, "This woman is arguably worse"
"Tell me how?"
…...
Deciding she couldn't hide away all day, Christina crept from her room.
A walk in the courtyard would be good.
Quickly flying through the halls, she burst into the courtyard with a grin. The overcast skies did nothing to dampen how wonderful the courtyard was. Tall elm trees, blackberry bushes along with the many flowers made the courtyard seem more like a forest than something surrounded by stone on all sides. Cultivated, designed to be her playground when she was little. Now, it was her garden to keep and care for.
The cawing of crows and ravens drew her attention to the overhead branches. Their attention wasn't focused on her it was behind her. Cautiously she approached the bushes.
"Come out, you're okay"
Out stepped a dragon the size of a large dog. Black scales tinted blue with blue flame patterns on the wings. Purple eyes watching in fright.
"Hello, did you come from the Moors?" Christina asked softly, "It's alright, I won't hurt you"
She stretched her fingers allowing the dragon to get her scent. He wagged his tail, shooting forward to knock her to the ground.
"I guess you like me?" Christina questioned, patting the overzealous dragon, "But where did you come from?"
the dragon gave no response, not that she expected one, sitting on her legs with a pensive expression. Christina figured she was stuck to the ground for the time being but she had to get off her wings which were splayed uncomfortably beneath her. After that, she had a little staring contest with the dragon on her lap. He had to have come from the Moors, dragons did not just fall from the skies. At least not uninjured dragons with well-working wings as powerful as hers were delicate.
"Would you like something to eat?" she pulled berries from the closest bush with her magic, "These are my favorite, you know"
The dragon took the berries from her hand curiously.
"Good aren't they?" the dragon pushed his face into her arm, rubbing her, "If you like me so much I suppose we should go inside and get Grandmother's permission but you'll have to get off me first"
The dragon seemed to understand, hopping off her legs, allowing her to stand. Once on her feet, Christina brushed off her dress, smoothing out the skirt before looking at her newfound companion, "Ready?"
…...
There was a soft knock on the door causing the adults to go quiet. The details of Regina's tortures were unpleasant. No one needed to hear, least of all Christina, who they figured was just outside.
"Come in"
"Grandmother, I seem to have made a friend," Christina gestured to the dragon beside her.
"Yes, it seems you have, you may keep him if you give him a name"
"Prince, I'll call him Prince, thank you Grandmother"
"You're welcome. Christina," Maleficent smiled, "Why don't you get him settled into your room?"
"Yes, Grandmother," Christina nodded, "Come along, Prince"
The dragon dutifully followed behind Christina who closed the doors with a wave of her hand. Maleficent watched them go, a smile still on her face. A pet! Why hadn't she thought of that? Why stop at one? Before Maleficent could be swept away by the brilliant idea, however, she was reminded by Alissa's tapping fingers that she wasn't alone.
"I think I've heard enough about this leech's cruel antics, tell me how you got away?"
…...
One second, Monster Mystery Inc was enjoying their lunch in the Monster High courtyard the next they were in a very strange room.
"MOTHER!"
Alissa stood to the right, Radu just behind her.
"I simply want to thank your rescuers"
Now, they were face to face with Maleficent. MALEFICENT.
Shaggy and Scooby fainted from fright while their friends made a protective circle around them. They didn't know what to expect from the legendary dark fae.
Whatever happened was sure to be interesting.