Maleficent woke up late that same afternoon, immediately sensing that something had changed. Her skin seemed extra sensitive, a flow of magic coursing through her veins. She slipped out of bed and looked in the mirror – jumping up and shrieking in delight when she saw her healed skin. There was no trace of burned flesh, no bruising, no scars. She wondered if she dared try a little magic. She looked at the comb on the dressing table and waved her hand above it briefly; the comb raised a little, then clattered back down to the table. Maleficent looked out of her meagre window and pointed at a small tower just visible to the left. She'd have to control this carefully... Flicking her wrist briefly, a thin strip of lightning shot out of her fingertip and sparked off the distant tower. She rubbed her hands and gave a satisfied smile. Her powers were almost back to full strength and she would no longer need to 'charge' a spell before using it. She dressed quickly, anxious to make the most of the rest of the day.

She wondered what her first move should be, now that she and Stefan were on less than diplomatic terms. Deciding to visit Stefan immediately to smooth over their recent spat, she adjusted the collar on her cloak and glanced in the mirror to check it. On a sudden impulse, she ran her hand over her head, encouraging her hair to grow until it reached a length she was used to – prior to her fight with Phillip, Maleficent's jet black hair had flowed down her back, dead straight with no hint of a curl. She smiled and waved her other hand over her face to fix her make-up, the kohl-rimmed eyes suiting her better than her pale, drawn appearance of the last few weeks. With an experimental, girlish twirl she admired her reflection in the oversized mirror. The trademark headdress was, of course, absent, but nonetheless she now looked every inch the imposing and terrifying Governess she always had been. She tilted her chin haughtily at her reflection, ashamed now to admit to herself that she had ever been so weak as to cry, to beg Fauna for her company, to laugh with them as though they were friends. As the thoughts chased around her head, she realised that with each affirmation of her absolute power a hollow area in her breast seemed to be growing. I enjoyed laughing with them – I want their company. She lowered her defences a little and looked back to the mirror. Her face had softened and while the difference was not obvious to the casual observer, Maleficent noticed it. Just so long as they don't assume I have become weak. She clutched her robe nervously and opened the door, forgetting for a moment that the guards would be on duty.

"Let me pass. I wish to speak with the King."

"I'm sorry ma'am but that's not allowed."

"I insist."

"Then I'm afraid I shall have to insist you do not." To emphasise his point, the guard crossed his pike across the doorway, his comrade doing the same.

"I'm very sorry, boys, but I don't wish to discuss this." Maleficent snapped her fingers and the two pikes turned into pythons, both guards shrieking like girls when they noticed the change. Maleficent grinned to herself and walked through the doorway and down the corridor. A few steps later, she stopped. After all, they were only doing their jobs. She turned and clicked her fingers once more. The guards, locked in a wrestling match each with their respective pythons, found themselves holding silk scarves instead of snakes. She smiled vaguely at them and continued down to the hall, the guards following at a safe distance.

Maleficent headed down the stairs and reached the hall in record time, the two guards trying to discourage her all the way.

"King Stefan won't stand for it ma'am."

"He gave instructions you were not to leave the room!"

"He'll have our heads for this!"

"No, he won't," replied Maleficent, turning on her heel just before she entered one of the private rooms of the castle. "I will tell him you tried your best to stop me."

"Very generous of you ma'am," answered one of the guards, forgetting who he was talking to for a moment. He gulped air as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh dear, really? I do hope not. I think you should both leave now, as quickly as possible. And, by the way," she added as both guards made to flee, "It's 'Excellency' not 'ma'am' when addressing a governess."

"Yes ma'am, right you are ma'am." Maleficent shook her head and smiled at the guards' nervousness and waited until they were both out of sight before she opened the door into the library. She swept through the threshold and over to a bookcase, plucking a book at random off the shelf. A nervous maid stood up at the fireplace and stared open-mouthed at Maleficent.

"You're dropping ash on the floor," said Maleficent helpfully. The maid automatically straightened the dustpan in her hand. "Any idea where the King is?" The maid shook her head quickly, a bit too quickly. Maleficent picked up on this. "You do know, but you refuse to tell me, correct?" The maid looked a little more nervous, if this were at all possible. "I suppose this leaves me with only one option..." The maid's eyes bulged, she was clearly expecting to be punished. "I shall have to find him myself. Good day."

Leaving the terrified maid behind, Maleficent strode through a side door and into a parlour. Stefan and Charlotte were in deep conversation with the three fairies, who were apparently chastising Stefan for his earlier behaviour. None of the group noticed her as she approached, clearly expecting a servant to be bringing drinks. The maid finally screamed a warning and they turned to face the side door.

"Good afternoon," Maleficent said brightly. "I take it you are all well? Not too shaken by this morning's events?" She glanced at each of their faces in turn and smiled at Fauna. "Thank you," she said softly, "all three of you. Even Merryweather."

"What do you mean?" asked Merryweather, pouting.

"I understand why you lost your temper – I have been known to do the same," said Maleficent with a half-smile at King Stefan. A group of guards burst through first the side door and then the one from the corridor – the second being headed up by the two guards from Maleficent's door.

"Then, you're not here to kill us?" asked Charlotte, seeking confirmation of the obvious.

"No."

"Then could you please explain why you are out of your room?" demanded Stefan. "We had an agreement – you were to remain in that room until I decided what to do with you – how did you get out?"

"The door."

"Don't be facetious!"

"I confess I may have used my magic to persuade the guards to let me pass. But they are perfectly well," she protested, gesturing towards the two men.

"You cannot be trusted."

"If I'd wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

"That's hardly comforting."

"And as for wandering the castle unescorted, I simply cannot allow..."

"I know. Where am I allowed to go on my own, and when and where will I need an escort?"

"Nowhere! I refuse to have you walking around my home as though you've done nothing wrong."

"What particular punishment did you have in mind? Execution perhaps? Enslavement?"

"No. I... I'm not sure."

Stefan drifted into silence, and Maleficent glanced over to the queen.

"I only wish to learn my fate."

"I understand, but you must appreciate how difficult this is for all of us," answered Charlotte. "Aurora can forgive you what you did because she honestly believes you have changed since you made the irrational choice to curse her and then attempt to kill Phillip a few weeks ago. It's more difficult for those of us who have known you for longer."

"I think I have changed," said Maleficent. "Otherwise, I don't believe I would still be here."

"But can't you see how, as her parents, we can never forgive you?" interrupted Stefan.

"I understand. Perhaps not as well as you would like, but I do acknowledge your pain."

"I do not want your sympathy!" growled Stefan.

"What do you want? I can promise that I will never leave the fortress, perhaps I could promise never to leave the castle keep, but I cannot pretend I will be content to remain in my room forever."

"Why couldn't you have just died?"

"What would you have me do?

"You should be incarcerated."

"Yes."

"We can't – she's been our patient for so long," said Charlotte.

"How might I best serve you, your majesties?" Maleficent saw her chance, and took it. If nothing else, she would attempt to recover some of her position at court and keep the king's mind off prisons, cells and the like.

"I would banish you if I thought you'd stay away," answered Stefan. "Though I imagine you would return to seek revenge."

"Possibly. Then again, maybe not."

"Return to your room – I will come to you within the hour with my decision. Must I send an escort?"

"No, I'll find my own way back."

Maleficent trudged back to her room feeling altogether dispirited and quiet. She supposed it was going to take time to rebuild, that her hopes the discussion with Stefan would go better then that were a little far-fetched. She patiently sat down and tried to relax.

Two hours later, Maleficent had virtually worn a path in the wooden floor of her room. She did not appreciate being kept waiting. A town clock chimed out the hour in the background and Maleficent came to a snap decision. Storming out of the door, scattering the two guards before her as she went, she marched off to find Stefan. From the main hall, a cacophony of laughing and clanging attracted Maleficent's attention and she padded quietly towards the noise to investigate.

"Are you sure darling?" rang out Charlotte's voice.

"Yes – she will understand our terms, I think. Ah, Maleficent – how very good of you to join us," said Stefan, noticing her at the door.

"I was bored," said Maleficent by way of explanation for breaking her confinement twice in one day.

"I have a test for you."

"Go on."

"Do you swear allegiance to myself and my queen?"

"Of course.

"In future, you will not enter this castle without my express permission."

"I'm going elsewhere?"

"Yes. There is a suite of rooms in the gatehouse which should more than meet your needs. You are to remain within the fortress walls and not venture into the countryside or town unless I have specifically stated that you may."

"Anything else?"

"If there is even a hint of treachery, or if you stray from my rules, you will be permanently banished."

"I think I can cope with that."

"One last thing."

"Yes?"

"No magic."

"What!" Maleficent's fury at this last request escaped before she could stop it.

"No magic." Stefan stared down Maleficent.

"Why?"

"I am still not sure that you can be trusted. You will notice guards following you as you move around the fortress. They will report any odd occurrences directly to me."

"But..." Maleficent was split between being pleased at being allowed some freedom and anger at finding out she was swapping one prison for another. More annoyingly, she couldn't see any other way out of the situation than to accept Stefan's terms for now and work out the rest later.

"Then we are agreed?"

"Yes," sighed Maleficent, her disappointment evident. "Really, no magic?"

"Really." Stefan waved a hand for two guards. "I will have your possessions sent over to you – these soldiers will escort you to the gatehouse."

Maleficent tried to ignore the stares of the crowd as she was hurriedly marched across town and towards the gatehouse. She was instantly recognisable and, while she cared little for the thoughts of the common-folk, she couldn't entirely ignore their conversations. Witch... Should have been killed... Evil... She saw an old woman cross herself and quickly look away, running through the crowd back to her home. Il diavolo. Merchants and bakers, traders and soldiers, children and adults alike – all stopped to stare, point and whisper about her. A crowd followed to the gatehouse and it was with some relief she received her key and locked the door against the world.

Late that night, a crash from downstairs alerted Maleficent that something was wrong and she headed towards the noise. A glow from the hallway stopped her – the parlour downstairs was on fire. Given she was in full possession of her powers, this didn't overly worry her. She simply walked down, extinguished the flames with a wave of her hand and surveyed the damage. A window had been broken – that must have been where the now charred but once aflame ember currently at rest on the floor had been thrown in. Then she realised her mistake – she'd performed magic without even considering Stefan's ban. She shrugged off the guilt. He couldn't have meant in emergencies. She heard a man laugh from outside and peered through the broken window at the rapidly dispersing crowd. They came to burn the witch. Debating on whether or not she should tell Stefan, then deciding not to as she would have to admit to using her magic, she left the ember where it lay and headed back to bed. However, as soon as she left the parlour, there was a furious pounding on the door. Maleficent answered it, not really afraid of any mortal that may be knocking. There was no-one there. She took a few steps outside, then cried out as something hard and heavy hit her head. Staggering from the blow, she tried to make her way back to the door, but was struck again. The stone – for that is what hit her – fell to the floor and clattered against the cobblestones. Furious now, she whirled around, trying to catch sight of whoever dared attack her. Another three stones hit her cloak, causing no real damage.

"Who is there?" she called out. Maleficent was vaguely aware that she was being watched, but for now blind fury prevented her from retreating back indoors. A stone clattered to her feet in response. "Come and show yourselves!" She bent to pick it up.

Without warning, her arms were pinned to her sides, her mouth gagged and her eyes blindfolded. At least two men had hold of her and were dragging her backwards, away from the gatehouse, while her hands were being bound together. Unable to do hand-magic with her hands tied, and gagged to prevent any other spells escaping her lips, she was helpless. A guttural laugh to her left chilled her – she knew she did not want to find out what these peasants had planned. Thankfully and against the odds, she heard a shout, then another, instructing the men to let her go. Off-balance, as soon as the men let her go she crashed to the floor, swearing through the gag as she landed. Rough hands untied the gag and blindfold and Maleficent blinked in the cold night air. Her rescuer was busy untying her hands and for now Maleficent could not see him.

"My thanks," she stated calmly, more composed now that she seemed to be safe. Her rescuer was one of the guards sent to report on her actions at all times.

"My orders are to ensure your safety. The lieutenant has already left to report your mishap with the fireplace earlier this evening."

"I'm sorry?"

"The fire? We saw you put it out with magic – you know we have to report that."

"The building was on fire!"

"Still magic."

"Oh for..." Maleficent stormed off and back into the gatehouse, her foul temper building as the minutes she was left alone increased. Eventually, footsteps approached the door and King Stefan entered the parlour, wrinkling his nose at the smell of burned wood.

"You were told not to perform magic."

"The room was on... oh, what's the point?"

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted you."

"Did they even tell you it was deliberate – that some peasant threw a burning torch in here?"

"No," Stefan faltered, Maleficent's account proving very different from the one the guard had given him.

"And I was attacked – is that why you sent me here – to be rid of me?"

"No – if I wanted you dead, I'd have had you executed."

"Then why?"

"To give you a chance, clearly, though, if you're going to perform magic despite my warnings..."

"That's enough." Maleficent stood and rounded on the king. "I have been patient. But I have been slapped, healed, moved and my safety compromised twice in the last day alone – and your only response is to come here and somehow make this my fault! I suppose you will be carrying out your threat of banishment now?"

"I had considered it, but if what you say is true, then of course..." But Maleficent was no longer listening.

" I have my powers back now – I don't need you any longer!" She stormed out of the parlour and into the street. With no staff at her disposal she couldn't simply disappear and reappear at a chosen destination – she was going to have to walk. She pushed quickly through the soldiers outside, waving them gently but firmly out of her way with a spell.

Maleficent rushed through the fortress and onto the drawbridge, brushing aside guards with her magic as she passed, determined to reach the Forbidden Mountains. Even if her castle had been completely destroyed, there were plenty of caves she could hide in. She needed to spend some time alone to gather her thoughts and decide what to do next. She was bitterly disappointed that Stefan's first reaction had been to condemn her, and couldn't quite absolve herself of the crime of over-reacting to his words either. When she reached the far bank, she turned to see if anyone was following her. Sure enough, the three good fairies were only paces behind her and caught up quickly.

"You can't leave," said Flora simply.

"I just did! I've been attacked, had the building I was in set on fire and threatened with banishment – I'm simply doing what Stefan wants!"

"How are you going to get to the mountains?" asked Merryweather.

"How did you know that's where I was heading?"

"There's nowhere else you could go."

"True. I'm going to use my magic to transport there."

"You can do that without a staff can you?" asked Merryweather, innocently. Maleficent scowled, thought quickly and snatched Flora's wand from her pocket. She waved the wand briefly above her head, green flames spurting from the ground as she did so. Maleficent disappeared in a flash, the grass beneath her left slightly scorched.

The three fairies watched the tip of the Forbidden Mountains and saw a tiny green glow flicker on, then off.

"What should we do?" asked Fauna. She turned to Flora, who had turned a furious red and looked ready to kill.

"We're going to get my wand back," answered Flora, perfectly calmly, her temper dissipating. "But first, we're going back to talk to King Stefan."

Stefan was pacing on the dais when the three fairies re-entered the throne room. He looked hopefully at the three, then seemed crestfallen they'd returned alone.

"She stole Flora's wand, but we know where she's going sire," said Merryweather. "She's going home."

"The Forbidden Mountains?" asked Stefan.

"Yes."

"I should have listened to her – my guards told me that she'd caused the fire, but the window was broken and..."

"She was attacked," added Fauna.

"I know – Dubois told me. Excellencies – could you possibly go after her and bring her back?"

It was many hours later when they arrived at the Forbidden Mountains, the sky already starting to lighten in the early dawn. Knowing that Maleficent would be expecting them, they approached confidently, chatting and bickering loudly as they did so. Finally they came to what would have been the courtyard of the old castle. Stefan's soldiers had flattened the castle, which had been partially derelict for some time, using the stones to build simple storage huts for the few valuables they had found and the food stores (Maleficent had declined to answer when asked exactly where her goblins had 'acquired' food stocks from). Fauna and Merryweather used their wands as torches, searching the buildings for Maleficent. As they turned a corner around one building, they found her standing at the corner of an open patch of ground, her back towards them.

Maleficent had lit torches around this small clearing, allowing the fairies to see the scene in its full horror. In one hand, Maleficent was holding a soldier's helmet that, from its appearance, seemed to be from one of Stefan's guards. Laying on the floor around Maleficent were the bodies of the garrison sent to hold the mountains and destroy the goblin presence. Each guardsman had a look of terror on his face, his wide staring eyes and gaping mouth looking to the sky for comfort that would never come. The fairies approached Maleficent cautiously, their footsteps grating on the stone, alerting her to their presence. She turned to face them slowly.