Shaggy was a bundle of nerves, anxiously pacing the living room. He had reached out to the gang asking for their help and now they were coming over. The awkwardness that was sure to ensue made him shudder. But, he needed their help. He needed to bring Christina home safe and sound without a constant threat to her life hanging around school halls. He missed her so very much. When the doorbell rang he turned frozen with fear. Despite knowing who was waiting he just couldn't bring himself to answer the door. Scooby came to his rescue, answering the door while Sugie guided him to the couch, forcing him to take a seat.

"Hi, Shaggy," Fred greeted him slowly, nervously, "You wanted to see us?"

"Yes,"

"can you tell us why now?" Velma questioned to his right, "You were kind of vague,"

"Yeah," Daphne agreed to his left, "What's going on?"

"I need your help with a mystery," Shaggy admitted.

"What kind of mystery?"

"Like, the urgent kind," Shaggy stressed.

"Christina's in exile," Sugie clarified when Shaggy went quiet. "There's this really messed up vampire at the school who thinks she's his property and the headmistress can't do anything because his mother's some important councilwoman or whatever,"

"So, why do you need our help?" Velma questioned.

"We need to like, gather evidence that puts them both behind bars so Christina can come home,"

"Okay, so, where do we start?"

"I have no idea,"

…...


"Thunder, in order for me to throw the stick you have to let go of it," Christina giggled locked in a game of tug a war.

"Nuh-uh," Thunder grunted.

"You leave me no choice then," Christina smirked, scratching her pet's exposed belly.

As soon as he released the stick which was more of a tree branch Christina chucked it as far and as hard as she could laughing when the three took off after it, determined to be the one to bring it back. Her smile fell when they were out of sight. She was missing home again. She slumped to the ground, shivering despite her coat throwing a glance to the mountain castle that loomed behind her. Every day was the same. Study then go outside, come back at nightfall, bathe the wolves and go to bed. Every single day. There was nothing interesting to do, nothing new to see. Something had to happen soon.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, Vincent got an unexpected visitor.

Maleficent.

"I've come to meet my granddaughter," she announced.

"You can't,"

"Dracula says otherwise," Maleficent smiled, "Where is she?"

"Outside,"

"I should've known, I've been watching,"

"So I've noticed," Vincent glared at Diablo.

The two remained standing locked in a silent staring contest. Maleficent would not leave that was clear but Vincent, he wasn't sure of this. Alissa hadn't wanted Maleficent to be part of Christina's life.

"I'll wait for her," Maleficent said, breaking the silence, "unless you want me to go into the forest and introduce myself-"

"No, take a seat,"

"Gladly,"

…...


An hour later Christina returned with her pets, intent on giving them baths only to be stopped by Vincent.

"Christina? A moment", Vincent called gently, and she turned to face him. "There's...someone who wishes to meet you. Will you come with me into the atrium, please?"

"Okay, Uncle Vincent."

Who could possibly want to meet me? I hope I'm not in trouble? What if I am? What did do? Oh, Goblins-wait is that-HOW?

"Hello, Christina", Maleficent said with a regal smile. "I am very pleased to meet you at last. Do you know who I am?"

"Y-y-you're Maleficent! B-but I thought..."

"You thought I was only a fable?", she finished with an arched eyebrow and half-smile. "Yes, well Mr. Walt Disney was a frequent visitor to Ever After in his youth, seeking inspiration for his moving picture shows."

"Wait! So all the fairy tales are...?"

"All the fairy tales you know and love are true? Yes, my dear, in my home realm of Ever After, they are very real", Maleficent smirked. Then her face softened, almost to...endearment as she gently touched Christina's cheek. "You look so much like Alissa did at your age."

"How do you know my mother?", Christina asked suspiciously.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that your uncle, aunt, and mentor here haven't mentioned my connection to her, given how she and I argued the last time I saw her. She was quite angry at me" the Dark Fae sighed sadly. "But no matter the disagreements, time, and distance," Maleficent paused to look Christina in the eyes, "a MOTHER never stops loving her daughter with all her heart."

Holy CRAP. No, no, not possible! Uncle Dracula wouldn't-

"Maybe you should sit down, Christina," Vincent said hastily, seeing the confusion written across the hybrid's face.

"Yes, we have much to discuss," Maleficent nodded.

…...


"Shaggy maybe you should go to bed?" Sugie quietly suggested.

"No, I'm not done yet!" he snapped eyes bloodshot and droopy.

Sugie wasn't even sure what he was doing. Draculaura had provided them with the small folder of incident reports and pictures from all of Drew's attacks earlier. Now, Shaggy sat with those things spread before him as if he were trying to study them. He obviously couldn't see them so why was he still sitting there?

"Shaggy, please, you can look-er, study them tomorrow, please,"

"I'm going to talk with Christina," Shaggy gruffly declared.

"Okay,"

Maybe she can talk some sense into you.

…...


Hours earlier:

"It's ready, son," Regina grinned.

"So.."

"You'll have her tonight,"

"I'd be careful if I were you," a new voice chimed.

"Revolta, what are you doing here?" Regina questioned.

"I've come to warn you, Maleficent's here in our realm,"

"So what about it?", Drew asked snidely.

"So you must be cautious, my dear Drew!", the Witch of the Web said. "She is not only the Queen and most powerful of the Dark Fae, but she is also Christina's GRANDMOTHER."

"Well-well! Christina is truly a perfect match for my Drew indeed!", Bathory chuckled wickedly. "Descended of both the House of Dracula and the royal line of the Dark Fae? Marvelous!"

…...


Christina sat perfectly still, mind reeling trying to process this new information. Maleficent was real, Maleficent was her grandmother, her uncle knew but didn't tell her...

I don't think I can take anymore she thought tiredly

"I searched my world for years trying to find you, Christina. I knew when your mother passed on but I had no idea where she was, the years that followed were so bleak and then one day I found out about you,"

"How?" Christina slowly questioned, trying to focus.

"I felt your magic wake,"

Christina looked away after all this time magic still made her uncomfortable like there was a missing link.

"You don't understand your powers do you, Christina?"

Christina shook her head as much as she hated to admit it, "I can control them-"

"But, they scare you don't they?"

"Yes,"

"I can help you, Christina," Maleficent smiled, "I'll teach you,"

"You would?"

"Of course I would,"

"But why?" Christina slowly questioned.

"Because you are my granddaughter, my blood", the Elder Dark Fae reminded her. "Plus as...wise and knowledgeable as your mentor here is, he cannot fully understand fae magic. However, there is more to it in your case; potentially dangerous to yourself and others."

"What do you mean?", Christina asked nervously.

"Because You are different from most other dark fae, and I am not referring to being half-vampire", Maleficent told her, then pulled up her left sleeve to reveal a tribal-looking dragonmark... a lot like the one on her own arm, This is the Dragonmark. Only one dark fae a generation in my bloodline has it. It is a mark of great power...and royal succession."

"You don't mean-"

"You are the sole heir to my kingdom and will inherit it on your next birthday,"

Christina's mind was reeling as Maleficent continued.

"Come back to Ever After with me and I can teach you everything you need to know,"

The shock and on Christina's face worried Vincent to no end, "Christina..."

"Me-me a P-princess? SHUT UP!"

Well, this didn't take long to go downhill Vincent thought to himself.

"I-I'm no Princess. I'm an outcast struggling to survive high school and after high school, I want a nice quiet life!" Christina cried mind spinning.

"Christina-"

"I'm going outside!"

and, she was gone before either could object.

…...


Shaggy grew nervous when Christina didn't answer but, instead of pacing with worry he called his friends who were continuing the hunt for evidence.

"Shaggy, what's the matter?" Velma questioned.

"Christina didn't answer me,"

"Oh,"

"She always answers,"

"Maybe she was busy?" Daphne offered.

"In exile?" Shaggy deadpanned.

"Is exile that bad?" Fred asked.

Shaggy crossed his arms and glared, "Did you guys find anything?"

"Yes,"

"Tell me what then,"

…...


I am NOT a Princess, Christina thought to herself as she wandered through the forest.

She just needed to calm herself then she would return to the castle, cuddle with her wolves and forget this ever happened.

"What's the matter, Princess?"

NO, NO, NO!

Chills shot down her spine, spinning in a circle. Maybe she was just hearing things?

"Drew, you startled her,"

"My bad,"

Drew and another vampire, his mother, stepped out of the shadows grinning wickedly. Christina pulled out her wand, bracing herself for a fight.

"Oh, please," Regina laughed, "Night night, Christina,"

she was off her feet before she even had a chance to blink.

…...


Vincent had a sinking feeling when Christina didn't return.

"Something's wrong,"

"Agreed, let's go find her,"

Vincent stiffened. He'd forgotten Maleficent was present. Nevertheless, the two ventured into the woods in hopes of finding Christina. Only to find her discarded wand.

"Who would dare to-" Maleficent started.

"Drew would," Vincent interrupted.

Maleficent was visibly enraged, "FIND THEM!" she harshly ordered Diablo and Diaval, "When I'm done that vampire will wish he were dead!"

"Maleficent, please," Vincent pleaded trying to calm the fairy, "Firstly, we must inform Dracula and Christina's friends, they'll be able to help,"

"How so?"

"Even now, they're working to bring Christina home, make it safe for her to rejoin them at school,"

"Still, I refuse to sit by and do nothing!"

"But if Drew and his mother find out they could and WILL harm Christina," Vincent replied darkly, "They may be doing so even now,"

…...


Okay, that ends that and I admit I had more planned for this chapter but I didn't want to rush. Big thank you to my friend, DRAGONDAVE45 for helping me with this chapter. Please review and predict.

Back to my other work.