Why was this chapter so hard to do? I dunno. Fight scenes are not one with me. XD
In any case, while struggling to do this one, I spent time working out the last plot holes regarding Descendants and Maleficent and have pretty much worked on the next three chapters so I wasn't just wasting time. Plus, plotting out plans for the second half so they would connect to this.
Some announcements! For background info, I decided to read "Heart of the Moors" by Holly Black. For some reason I thought it was the novelization of Mistress of Evil(that's another book) but I was not disappointed with this read! It takes place in between the two films and goes more in depth to the Kingdom and the Moors relationship, which was honestly SO helpful. I might make some references to the book, but none that would be noticed very much if you haven't read it. But I do recommend.
Second! Plot holes! I like y'alls inputs so I leave this decision up to y'all. It will determine when I explain this little plot hole and depending on what is chosen, can either go more in depth to Maleficent and Hades relationship, or go more into Leah and Ingrith and her character as well as their crimes.(yep, I said it.)
Option 1: Leah was sick and wasn't going to get better. Diaval told Maleficent and remembering how she wasn't necessarily bad (at the time), Maleficent had Leah taken to Philip's family castle, which without magic would have been too long of a travel for a sick Queen to make. Maleficent also gave her Moor medicine to help heal her. Leah was never told about Maleficent's involvement in her getting better. Instead, during her long term stay, Ingrith filled her head with biases about the Fae, especially the wicked Maleficent.
Option 2: Leah wasn't given proper care by her negligent husband and did in fact pass. Years later, Maleficent realizes that for as much as loves Aurora, she needed a proper mother that could teach her how to be a Human Queen without others trying to use her. So she goes and visits the Underworld and makes a deal with Hades. He is impressed by her fiery temper and lets her take Leah in exchange for something. This would be how they met, how they fell in love, and how Leah somehow survived the whole ordeal. And of course, Leah remembered nothing and was simply told she was in a coma.
I was given these as suggestions, but if you have a more interesting idea, I would love to hear them.
Maria Fuentas: I really appreciate your review! Things will be fixed! And everything else, I must say will be answered shortly!
shortanamx: Trust me, everyone shares that feeling. XD
LetTheWorldHonorTheFallen: I didn't know that! It would have definitely changed the story had that been the case. Also, that would be absolutely hilarious!
Tsovinar: I know, how dare I! I'm terrible! XD Sorry for the long wait. I'm glad you like it!
EllaBSinging: I love Tarrant's character so much and wish I wrote him more. I'm glad you liked the small bit of the Hatter.
Isabelly Silva Sousa: Maleficent being a mix would be a tie in. Also that is very interesting.
Marcus Emrys: I'm glad I'm not the only one! When Maleficent's raised herself off the ground with those wings...Magical.
dragonslayerajahn: Oh my gosh that would be incredible. I never realized just what Mal possessed until you guys started to point it out, and I love every bit of it. Also I used part of your review in Philip's explanations because it was just so humorous, I hope I did it justice. And yes, I agree that Ben would probably have to take back that statement.
emilyramsey144445555: As you wish~!
AvatarUzumaki: All these questions and more will be revealed in the upcoming three chapters! I do really want Mal and Maleficent's relationship to heal, but I do want it to be a slowburn because I don't think Mal would forgive her mother for 16-18 years of neglect in just one hour.
QueenZebralol9: As you wish! I really do think they would make an adorable and witty couple. It's just a matter of seeing how it gets there.
Will I do a watching of Cruella? If I can think of some interesting things to do with it once I finally get the chance to watch it, possibly. Very possibly.
There should only be maybe, three or four chapters between this and the watching of Mistress of Evil? Maybe? I dunno.
Ferdinand ducked into his chair, thinking the worst had happened.
"'Magine how ironic that would be, that when Maleficent was stabbed, good magic would shoot out," Doug mused.
Carlos made a small amused noise and contemplated it. "What color is Fae blood?"
"Let's not find out," Evie cut in.
A golden light illuminated from Maleficent's back, bright enough to cause Stefan and the other men to shield their eyes as they stumbled away. Maleficents' wings simmered as they fused back in the place they rightfully belonged. She straightened, stretching out her wings and herself to the fullest they'd been in over a decade.
In awe, Aurora and Diaval watched as she rose off the floor, the feeling coming back to her as if it never left.
The Ak's of the room swept themselves into cheers, unable to repress themselves.
Bobby Hood pumped his fist in the air while Artie cupped his hands around his mouth and hooted. "About time!"
"Stefan's going down now!" Ally echoed.
The Vk's shook their heads in amusement at their hero counterparts.
"Still look like an angel?" Adam whispered.
Belle smiled. "Mmm, more like a woman who just got her life back."
"So if she got her wings again, how did she come to lose them before the Isle?" Hadie murmured absently.
Megara and Hercules exchanged frowns, knowing the boy made a point. They were far from seeing the end to this story. And even if their children found this to be a happy ending, they knew it was far from it for a certain king.
Stefan's frantic eyes went from Aurora beaming on the balcony to Maleficent a few times over. He shot up from the floor with a command at the ready. "Kill her!"
"And of course he has to ruin the mood," Chrys said.
"I don't think it's in the Rose family's blood to know when to quit," nudged Sparrow.
The soldiers echoed the cry and leapt into action. Maleficent soared across the room dodging and deflecting both lances and arrows as she flew.
Using the talons on her wings she sliced the chandelier chain and let it crash between the men and Diaval. They instantly lost hold, allowing Diaval to raise himself up and immediately assail the men with torrents of fire.
She used her talons once more to tear off the iron window grates. The metal shattered Stefan and Leah's thrones as it collapsed.
"Hey," Ben and Mal glanced at Hades. The god tilted his head at the screen. "Be lucky you weren't born with those wings. You'd'a been a caged bird on the Isle."
Mal nodded. It amazed her how despite not having been raised by him, Hades could always tell what she was thinking. She supposed he was right. If anything it would have made a big target on the Isle, for her and her mother. But still, seeing the power of those wings she couldn't help but wish she'd been more Fae than Godling.
And flying around the Isle? She could have been unstoppable.
Stefan, luckier than most, swiped his chain in the air and had it flick and wrap around Maleficent's ankle as she was flying overhead. His grip promptly kept her in place.
"He was a farmboy, then a chamber-dude, then a king. How in the world did he manage that shot when the trained soldiers can barely make a hit?" Jordan complained, throwing her hands up in annoyance.
"Luck?" Jay guessed. "Or paranoia over the years had him train in case he would need to catch a bird."
"He had her wings over the years."
Aladdin laughed. Silently he was glad Jordan was saying anything at all. She'd been unusually morose ever since the wish incident. "Then luck."
"Well his luck's about to run out," She glowered.
"Shoot her!" He grinned wickedly as he held on with both hands to keep her in place.
Maleficent pulled, barely deflecting the weapons aimed at her. The tug resulted in Stefan losing his grip. The chain however stayed attached to the wrist of his suit. The result was Stefan being dragged across the floor as Maleficent flew headfirst towards the no longer barred windows.
From the tinkling of bells Amy knew without looking behind her that the Pixie Hollow residents were enjoying the show more than anyone.
"What wonderful soldiers, making no move to grab him," Aziz drawled with a wide grin.
Leah snorted, to her daughter and step-son's surprise.
"Is it just me or does she seem...different?" Philip whispered. "Like, less of an old bat."
"Philip, she's my mother," Aurora chided.
He shrugged. He'd faced Maleficent's fury before. Leah was scary, but still paled in comparison. "I know, I know. I just figured she would be spouting venom all throughout this."
"It's probably just because she's found a likely enemy with Godmother," Aurora said amicably.
"Who, Stefan?" Lizard Maleficent flicked her tongue from where she watched. "I guess it is a common factor between them."
"That and they're both mothers to me." She sighed. "I guess I'm just glad she's been semi decent during this. She needed to see Stefan in a different light. Hopefully it will continue afterwards as well."
Philip held back from glaring out of the corner of his eye. "I wish it could be said for some others." Aurora raised a brow but he shook his head. Better to deal with his niece and daughter later.
Shooting forward in a midair spiral, she curled her wings in on herself and shot through the window like a bullet, unfurling her wings the moment the glass shattered.
Stefan howled as Maleficent flew around the castle with him dangling behind.
"She's going to drop him!" Leah announced shouting. "This is where she murders my husband!"
Hannah pulled her brother closer to her ready to shield his eyes. Everything they'd been shown thus far was a far cry from the truths they knew, but without a doubt no matter how it went down, Stefan was going to meet his fate. The only question still was how.
She dropped him on one of the castle's watchtowers where he rolled. She landed a second later behind him.
The moment he got to hit feet Maleficent used her wing to knock him back. Without hesitation she grabbed him. He was slammed into the stone walls, held up by his neck and met with a murderous emerald glare.
"It's over." She announced after a few moments of his strained choking. She released him.
"What?!" Anxelin groaned, slumping into her seat and dragging her hands down her face. "He deserved that!"
"Anxelin Arianna Fitzherbert!"
"Am I wrong mother?" She asked defiantly. "And he sounds like a wild animal," She muttered as an afterthought.
"What he didn't deserve is death by that witch's hands," Leah seethed.
Philip nudged his wife. "Cranky bat is back," He mouthed.
"She's a Fae," Evie snapped. "And he went after her first."
Stefan sputtered out coughs mixed with heaving breaths. As Maleficent turned to go he launched himself at her back. They both tilted over the edge.
"You see!"
"Y'know it's not exactly good for the princess to be saying that, Anxelin," Ryder pointed out to his sister.
"Everyone here agrees," Ruby mentioned.
Stefan and Maleficent grappled as they plummeted downwards. Maleficent spun around and spread out her wings, knocking Stefan off at last. They worked like a parachute, instantly halting her fall while Stefan continued downwards.
Belle gasped, reminded instantly of that night the curse was broken. The way Gaston had fought so hard to bring down The Beast. And suddenly with a twist of fate, he fell. A drop no one could survive.
So this was how Stefan died?
She remembered being told Maleficent caused his death. But that seemed to be a lie just like everything else they were told about Auroria. She voiced this to the crowd.
"Maleficent did kill him. She dragged him out of the castle and let him drop!" Leah argued palely. Belle raised a brow.
Embarrassment and annoyance coursed through Aurora. Was her mother really choosing to be so loyal to her husband that she'd blind herself from the truth?
"What are you on about, old lady?" Harriet groaned. "She gave him the chance to live. He jumped after her, and caused his own demise. Just like Gaston. Just like Clayton. Just like any two timing villain."
"What was it you said earlier, Leah? 'He was a good man who lost his life fighting the menace that tried to kill your daughter.'"
Leah sniffed and had the nerve to look indignant. She didn't respond to Harry's quote, but he took it as a win anyway, sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed.
She lowered herself down to stand over Stefan's skyward facing body in the castle's stone courtyard. Finally, the years long battle was done.
As like always the sun rose, filling the kingdom once more with the promise of light after the nights heavy darkness.
Florian lightly shook Snow, bringing her attention to little Ferdinand who was hesitantly bringing his hands down from his face. "Is it finally over, Mama?"
She ruffled his hair with a smile. "I think it just might be." And yet there's still so much unanswered, she thought.
Away from the soldiers licking their wounds at the castle, Aurora enjoyed the morning's light from the Moors where she sat under a tree. Far away but still visible to the naked eye she watched her godmother and her large wings spinning under the sky's pink clouds and smiled.
"I know how she feels," Ariel said nostalgically. "Getting back and being able to use what was gone forever."
"It was your idea to stay away from water until Melody was old enough," Eric pointed out.
Uma's eyes rolled at the Queen, but even she could understand what she meant. "It's the same feeling all the magic users on the Isle felt when the barrier was finally broken."
She didn't mean to say it very loud, but a good amount of the Council members turned their heads, almost as if ashamed. Maybe King Beastie was doing some good after all.
"Maleficent brought down her wall of thorns and took off her crown. And she invited Aurora to see how the Moors had been once, long ago, when Maleficent was but a child and her heart was bright."
Greenery overtook the once dreary areas of the Moors to the delight of the Fae that lived there. Flowers bloomed along vines, creeping up and overtaking the dead and frightening branches Maleficent once called a throne.
"Thank goodness she got rid of those ugly thorns," Amy shivered at the very thought of them.
"I thought they were pretty," Danny retorted.
Aurora beamed. Taking a gracious Wallerbog's hand, she was led to Maleficent and Diaval. For the first time, Aurora was graced to see her godmother in the way she always saw her in her heart. Without her headdress, Maleficent's brunette hair flowed out and her wing talons and horns were capped in gold.
"They make jewelry for those things?" Ariana turned her nose up. "She's the only one with them, and they just draw attention to their weirdness."
"They could be her mothers," Audrey pointed out.
"And they aren't weird," Philip chimed, startling the two. He cast a silencing look to his niece.
"For now, it was again. But that was not all."
From far off they could hear Flittle's hurried voice as the pixies flew over. "Oh, there she is. Hurry up. They're waiting."
"Wait for me!"
"Oh gods, they're back," Meg whined to her family's amusement.
Aurora and Maleficent turned to Flittle and Knotgrass carrying a golden leafed crown and Thistlewit doing her best to keep up. Maleficent passed her scepter to Diaval.
Mal's eyes narrowed to jealous slits. "She never let me lay a finger on her scepter."
"Maybe it was out of protection," Ben guessed. "You did tell me she cast a sleeping curse on scepter so no one could touch it."
The sleeping curse could only affect those who weren't her blood, but she didn't correct him. No need for him to see her spitefulness.
"We present this crown to our little Aurora, for whom we have sacrificed the best years of our..." Maleficent gently took the crown and gave a half menacing glare to the Knotgrass. "Nevermind," She ceded.
Zephyr shook his head. "They just never learn, do they?"
"Rumor is, they still think they actually made contributions to Aurora's growth to this day," Alice laughed. They weren't unlike the Tweedle twins.
Aurora bent slightly allowing Maleficent to place the crown upon her head. "Our kingdoms have been unified." She announced to the Fae with a touch of pride. "You have your queen."
Aziz's eyes widened. "Maleficent crowned you Queen?"
Audrey felt a queasy sense of pride course through her. Mal, and she supposed everyone else, thought that Aurora had finally done what her father and grandfather could not; take the Moors. And so she became Queen of the Moors. And on top of that, Queen of Auroria. Why her grandmother changed the kingdom from Ulstead to Auroria was still beyond her.
Audrey was to take the title of the Queen of Moors and Auradon while her elder sibling, Briar Rose was to become Queen of Auroria. Now that Auradon was out of the picture, thanks to Mal, all she had left was the Moors. And there was no way Mal could take that title from her now. She hadn't even realized that was something she was worried about.
When Mal started on her mother during Family Day, she felt a surge of overprotectiveness. She assumed it was for her mother. In reality, she wondered, was it just her being overprotective of her last remaining title? Perhaps that was why she snapped at Mal, despite how close they'd been becoming.
Mal would be Queen of Auradon, and Queen of the Isle as a result. To add to that, she would be Princess of the Underworld! She could not get the Moors too!
Almost unnoticed to all the audience, a small shockwave of energy rippled through the room. Mal's hands clutched the balcony railing so tightly it started to crack under her grip.
The Moor folk cheered in celebration.
"So you see, the story is not quite as you were told, and I should know, for I was the one they called Sleeping Beauty."
Balthazar stepped forward, offering his hand and bowing his head which Aurora generously returned. Behind him, his fellow tree guards kneeled to their new leader. Of all the guests to attend, the only other human was Philip who shared a happy smile with her.
"In the end, my kingdom was united not by a hero or a villain, as legend had predicted, but by one who was both hero and villain.
Ryder bent his head down, somewhat ashamed of his earlier remarks at the very start of the viewing.
And her name was Maleficent."
Maleficent swooped down from the stones overlooking the Fae's celebrations with Diaval and glided through the mazework of towering rocks the Moor provided. She soared up, stopping for a moment above the clouds to bask in the sun's golden rays before flying off with Diaval at her side.
"Okay, now I agree she looks like an angel," Adam ceded.
Fairy Godmother waved her hands, pausing the screen as it faded to black. "Well that was very informative."
"Is it just me, or was she not very surprised by how that ended?" Evie whispered to Carlos who in turn shrugged.
Kristoff slowly clapped his hands and raised himself out of his seat in a daze. "Can I just be the first to say that, that explained nothing!" His calm voice raised an octave with each word.
"He's right," Elsa agreed. "That didn't really explain...anything, to be honest. There's more questions than there were to begin with."
"To be fair, there were no questions to the story at the start," Olaf pointed out lightly with his signature chuckle.
Philip sighed. Time for the headache portion of today's events. And he so hoped it would be a peaceful day.
"Philip, Aurora," Adam said. He sat with his back straight, eyes pinned on the Rose family, and Snow's family by default since they shared a table, Hannah lamented. "If what we saw is true, which you haven't denied once, why was Auradon given nothing but lies? A woman was wrongfully accused and sentenced to life on the Isle because of those lies."
"They were hardly lies, your majesty," Ariana broke in. His gaze fell to Philip's niece who, sad as he was to say, was a known troublemaker. "Maleficent cursed Auntie Aurora and was Stefan's cause of death. Whether she regretted it or not, that's still the truth."
"And Stefan was absolutely morally grey," Evie snapped sarcastically.
An innocent voice halted whatever crude remark Ariana was going to make in response. The voice coming from none other than Squeaky Smee, huddled next to Squirmy by Ally's chair. "So you didn't fight off any dragons?" He sounded more hopeful than disappointed.
Tarrant jumped, not having noticed the smaller children in red hats earlier. "Where do you small ones keep coming from?" Alice patted his shoulder unsympathetically.
Philip knew that was just one of the many things he would have to answer for and was resigned and relieved to let the truth be heard for once in the past years. "No, I did not fight off any dragons. Except once, when Maleficent didn't like an idea I had. But that was more a threat than anything."
"You nearly had you leg bitten off," Aurora pointed out.
"So why does everyone think you slew a dragon?" Squirmy asked. He frowned feeling his beanie plucked off his head. Turning, he watched Tarrant inspecting it's material, to Alice and Mirana's chagrin.
The King stood up from his chair regally as if at one of his press conferences. But from the mirth on his face, Mal knew he was taking this anything but seriously. "I promise you all, I don't even know where that rumor came from. It's probably just because no one ever really notices when her bird disappears."
"Hey!"
"I'm touched you all think I fight at a level beyond any army. I mean, seriously, you saw her take on Henry and Stefan's men with ease. You really think I could beat her with just a sword and a shield? The rumor probably was started because of how much everyone knew she disliked me. I genuinely thought I was a goner at Coronation!"
His admission came lighthearted, despite his chiding remarks and had left most of the adults grinning in amusement. Even Ben had a small smile playing at his lips.
"So there was no enchanted sword and shield?" Doug asked.
"Oh, there are. They were a gift, y'know, for just in case." Philip agreed. "But I never used them," He added quickly.
Belle stood. Her countenance remained calm as she addressed her friends. "And the reasoning behind us never being told Maleficent practically raised you, Aurora? Or the fact that you two weren't originally True Love? Or any news of the war between the Moors and Ulstead?"
The couple exchanged glances. "We didn't mean for those lies to have spread..." Aurora started but faltered.
"But once we had everything set in place ourselves, rumors were already spiraling out of control," Philip finished.
"If you truly cared you would have ordered an official declaration so that you could state the truths yourselves, to both kingdoms," Philip wavered at the sternness of Adam's tone.
"We know," Aurora bent her head solemnly. "I should have done something more for the Moors, but the kingdom was already so stacked against them because of the past two kings. It didn't seem like a necessary problem at the time. Godmother...she wasn't necessarily evil I would say. But she did have a tendency to turn people into cats or other random tiny animals if they annoyed her. And she did make my five years ruling Auroria alone a bit more difficult. She didn't like to listen to reason..."
"And look at her now," Aziz gestured to the tiny lizard. "Turned into a tiny animal. Karma can be funny, huh?"
Jay winced. He couldn't exactly fault him, but no VK would ever say such a thing to a top tier villain on the Isle, even if they were vulnerable.
"Besides," Aurora continued. "It didn't feel like it mattered all that much at the start. I still loved Godmother, and she still protected me so it felt as if the rumors were harmless."
"If she was as you said and wasn't kind to the humans of the kingdom, how could you be so sure it was safe to be around her?" Jasmine wondered.
The Queen perked up. "Easy! I knew she cared. She even made me my own castle in the Moors, made entirely of nature, to rule the Moors as well. And besides, she woke me with True Love's kiss. That is unconditional."
Ben glanced back to Hades and Mal. With the way things sounded, perhaps he could convince his father to help him investigate further! Hades was off to his side overlooking the scene below. And Mal...
"Aren't you glad? Everyone knows the truth about your mother now."
He turned fully around. He hadn't even noticed Mal moving away from him earlier. She now stood a good ten feet away and was gaining distance by the second with each slow step backwards she made. She seemed, distraught. Hades noticed Ben's trail of vision and turned in confusion as well.
"Mal?"
With a burst of speed Ben didn't know she had poised in her, Mal spun on her heel and lurched for the door. He could have sworn he saw something shimmer around her.
Both Ben and Hades made to follow immediately. They were halted, however, when something invisible smacked into them and pushed them against the balcony. It was a miracle Ben didn't go straight over, if you could count Hades' arm grabbing hold of the back of his shirt to keep him in place a miracle.
He lifted Ben to his feet and sped to the door. Unfortunately, the hall was completely silent and there was no sign of the purple haired Fae.
"Where did she-" Ben's yanked his hand to his chest. The door handle and edges were...melting, despite the fact she barely touched them. He met Hade's eye.
This was trouble.