When Maleficent had finally made it home to the Forbidden Mountain, she practically scrambled out of the carriage, breathing heavily. Her hair was down and her dress had already transformed back to its old self.
"Uh, hey. You were in a pretty big rush back there. Everything okay?" Dementia commented.
"Please, no… I need to be alone. You can go now." Maleficent said with a defeated sigh.
Not sure what else to do, the little purple imp shrugged and reluctantly whipped the reins, making the carriage fly off and disappear into the night sky. After a moment, Maleficent meandered her way inside and into the throne room, where Diablo and the Three Good Fairies were waiting. The raven immediately perked up at the sight of his beloved mistress and he excitedly flew over to her to greet her.
"Oh, welcome back, Maleficent." Flora said.
"How was the ball?" Fauna asked.
"Did you have a good time?" Merryweather added.
"Yes." Maleficent answered.
"Then… why do you look so down?" Flora nervously asked.
"…I don't wish to talk about it." Maleficent then started to make her way up to her throne without even glancing at the Good Fairies.
"What? I don't understand. Did something happen?" Fauna asked as she and her sisters tried to follow the evil fairy who remained silent as she walked.
"Is everything alright, Maleficent? You can talk to us." Flora said, trying to sound reasonable.
"No. You won't understand." Maleficent muttered.
"Who says we won't? Come on, why don't you just tell us? You'll feel a lot better if you do. Does it have something to do with… this Hades?" Merryweather chimed in.
At the mention of Hades' name, the dark fairy suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and straightened her back. After a few long moments of silence, she slowly turned around to face the three fairy sisters. She glared down at them, her eyes like burning embers; they instinctively took a few steps back in fear, knowing full well how angry and frustrated she was. Even Diablo was spooked. He even flapped his wings and flew off in a different direction to give his mistress some space.
"Did you three not hear me? I do not wish to speak a word about tonight because I know for a fact that you three fools cannot and will not understand how I feel. So do me one final favor and LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed, her voice breaking and her eyes glowing bright.
Not knowing what else to do, the three fairies waved their wands and flew out of the throne room. But when they made it outside, they all stood at the entrance of the castle. They couldn't understand what was going on with Maleficent; she may be prone to anger-filled rants and outbursts, but this was a new kind of heated rage, even for her. They all looked at each other.
"She's obviously upset about something. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was on the verge of tears." Merryweather said.
"But Maleficent is evil, she never cries. I've definitely never seen her like that before." Flora replied.
"Oh, everything is so confusing now. I wish we knew what to do." Fauna added.
Back in the throne room, Maleficent leaned against the wall near her throne and heaved a deep sigh as the glow in her eyes dimmed. Diablo soon came back, carrying her scepter and robes in his talons. She took both from her beloved familiar; she slowly put on the robe, glanced at her reflection in the orb of her scepter, and paused. She saw that she still had her makeup on and her hair was still down; she suddenly remembered a triggering phrase in a voice that she hadn't thought about for years.
'That's what you get for pursuing love. Love is weakness and it's about time you learn that.'
It was her mother's voice on the night Grumio had betrayed her. For as long as she could remember, Maleficent believed every word Quintessa had said to her and she never sought love or romance ever again because of it. But now, after tonight, she felt conflicted. Love was supposed to be insignificant, silly, and for the weak, but she was now feeling something new and baffling. She recalled how she felt so happy and comfortable with Hades and she even remembered that she wanted… to kiss him. As these thoughts rushed around in her head, she felt her palms beginning to sweat, her heart was racing, and her stomach twisting into knots. Ever since she and Hades first met, she was thinking things she never thought before and feeling things she never used to feel; she couldn't explain any of this and that was a bit of a first for her. Was she… in love with Hades? She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake these foreign thoughts out of her brain.
"Argh! NO! Have I lost my mind?! This cannot be happening to me!" She screamed in frustration, squeezing her eyes shut and putting her hands to her head. "I am the Mistress of Evil! I can't be in love! …Can I?" She put a hand over her eyes and groaned. "If only I had never found that spell, then I would never have gone to the Underworld in the first place!" She paused and removed her hand from her face as she made a realization. "…Because then I would never have known what I was missing." Her eyes widened. "…I love you, Hades."
A small smile started to creep onto her lips, but then various unpleasant and unsettling thoughts suddenly popped up in her mind at this revelation. What if Hades didn't love her back? What if he wanted nothing to do with her after the way she ran off? What if he doesn't really understand her at all? What if he refuses to speak to her? What if… she never sees him again? She stood straight, placed her scepter up against the wall, and took off her Dragon's Eye Opal bracelet and set it on her throne's armrest.
"A million thoughts in my head" She began to sing.
"Should I let my heart keep listening?
Up until now I've walked the line
Nothing lost but something missing
I can't decide
What's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go?
If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh, if only
If only
If only"
Images of Hades flooded her mind as she sang; his infectious laugh, his charming smile, his fiery personality, everything about him was perfect in her eyes.
"Every step, every word
With every hour I am falling in
To something new, something brave
To someone I, I have never been
I can't decide
What's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go?
If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh, if only"
Her memories of him and her together suddenly flashed before her eyes; the first time they met, the silly bet they made, him protecting her from that monster of tar, him carrying her across the river, and them dancing together. She ran her hands through her hair and nearly screamed her frustration to the Heavens.
"Am I crazy? Maybe we could happen
Will you still be with me when the magic has run out?
If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh
If only
If only
If only
If only
If only
If only…"
At this point, these conflicting emotions and thoughts were practically driving Maleficent mad. She was so confused and scared by these different views and new feelings inside of her that she soon slumped down into her throne, buried her face in her hands, and for the first time in a very long time, she started to cry, allowing her tears to flow as she let it out. Diablo could only stare in shock. In all of the years he's been alive, he had never seen the Mistress of All Evil actually sob before and he didn't know how to handle it. All he could do now was stay at his mistress's side and be there for her, so he perched on the left armrest of her throne and sat next to her in silence. But as Maleficent continued to weep, a faint sound made the raven perk up; it sounded light and airy, almost like a bird's song. Maleficent slowly lifted up her head and wiped her eyes when she heard the sound.
"…Hello? Is someone there?" She called out.
That was when she noticed a soft blue light from a doorway to her right.
"…Hades? Is that you?" She called out, taking hold of her scepter.
But then the sound from before came back, only much louder and clearer. Maleficent paused and stood up from her throne. Diablo then noticed something his mistress could not; a light pink wisp flying over to her and fogging up her eyes, making them look glazed over and glowing pink. Without even a second thought, Maleficent remained silent and slowly walked towards the sound as if she were in a trance. He tried his best to stop her, but it was all in vain. She was completely unresponsive and he could do nothing to help. Not knowing what else to do, he picked up Maleficent's bracelet in his talons and flew out to find Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather still standing outside. He squawked at them, hoping they would understand his cries for help.
"What in the world? The raven's gone mad! What is he doing?" Merryweather asked, covering her ears.
"Wait! He has something in his claws." Flora said as Diablo dropped the bracelet into her open hands. "Something's not right."
"Maleficent must be in danger." Fauna said.
Diablo cawed and nodded his head, feeling very happy that they understood. Led by the raven familiar, the three Good Fairies flew back into the castle. But when they made it to the throne room, Maleficent was nowhere in sight. Diablo then pointed his beak towards the door his mistress went down, suggesting that the fairy sisters go after her to try and find her. The trio agreed and went through the door, but Maleficent's castle was like a maze. She could be anywhere and it would take hours to find her.
"Oh, where could she be?" Fauna asked worriedly.
"Why don't we split up? That way, we could cover more ground." Merryweather suggested.
"Good idea, Merryweather. I'll go left. Fauna, you go right. And Merryweather, you go straight." Flora ordered.
And they did just that; Flora went down a hallway to the left, Fauna flew down a hallway to the right, and Merryweather strode up a staircase that was straight ahead. But while they went off to search, Diablo flew out of the castle again and out into the forest to see if he could get someone else to help him too. As the trio of fairies was combing the castle halls for any sign of Maleficent, the Mistress of Evil was already going up a winding staircase while following the blue light and the hypnotic music. When she finally reached the top, the door that was in front of her flew wide open and she walked into a room where some old artifacts were kept, one of them being the very spinning wheel she used to curse Princess Aurora. Suddenly, the light faded and the music stopped, which made Maleficent snap out of her trance. She blinked a few times and shook her head, as if she had just woken up from a dream.
"Ugh, my head." She moaned, rubbing her eyes. When her vision cleared, she finally noticed her surroundings. She paused and magically lit a torch or two lining the wall with a simple wave of her scepter. "W-what happened? Where am I? How did I…?" Then she noticed the spinning wheel in a farther corner of the room. She strode over to it and curiously gave the wheel a quick spin; it gave a light whir before it slowed down and stopped.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here." A new voice said with a creepy giggle.
Maleficent whipped around so fast that she almost fell over. She narrowed her eyes and gripped her scepter tightly, ready for a fight.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" She demanded.
Just then, a tall figure slowly stepped out of the shadows and into the torchlight. It was a woman with long curly bright yellow hair pulled into a ponytail, red eyes, beautiful features, dressed in pink, and holding a golden flute in one hand; she smiled a wicked smile at the dark fairy. Maleficent took a step back, but kept her eyes narrowed and her guard up. She never took kindly to intruders and this woman in pink was definitely no exception.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my castle?" She asked.
"Hey, cool it. I'm only here to talk to you." The woman said. "Starting with this… Didn't I tell you not to speak to him?!"
"W-what? I-I… I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh please, you know exactly what I mean. You really aren't much of an actor, you know that? Teasing him like that, and then running away."
Maleficent had absolutely no idea what this madwoman was talking about. She was about to show this trespasser a lesson before she realized something.
"You… you're Persephone, aren't you?" She asked, furrowing her brow.
"Ding-ding-ding. Give the home wrecker a prize!" Persephone scoffed.
"Home wrecker? I have done no such thing to you. In fact, I've never even met you before tonight."
"Oh spare me. I don't want or need your excuses. You mortals are all the same; wrecking perfectly happy relationships and not even taking the blame. And since I wasn't clear last time, I'll tell you again… Hades is MINE! And if I catch you sneaking around him again, I'll make sure you suffer the consequences!"
After a long moment of silence, Maleficent suddenly burst out laughing as if she had just been told a hilarious joke. This took Persephone by surprise.
"What's so funny?" She demanded.
"Are you serious?!" Maleficent chortled before calming down. "Do you honestly think you can intimidate me? I am the Mistress of All Evil, I fear nothing!"
"…Except for those nightmares?"
Maleficent paused. "How did you…?"
"Well, that's a funny story. Ever since I heard that little story about YOU setting Hades free from the River of Souls, I had an acquaintance of mine try to plague you with nightmares to try and scare you away. But that didn't work. And when I learned that you received the invitation to the ball that was meant for ME, I decided to take a more personal and upfront approach."
"So… you think your empty threats will stop me from seeing Hades? Well, you're sadly mistaken. You may be a Goddess, but you have NO power over ME. And I don't care what you do to me, but I will protect Hades from you no matter what."
"…Well, that is a mistake."
That was when they heard a crash. Maleficent turned around to see the spinning wheel on the floor and broken, but then she felt a sharp pain in her right hand and she cried out. She looked and saw a large, fresh cut on her hand that went diagonally across her palm. As it bled, she turned back to Persephone who had a smug look on her face. The dark fairy scoffed.
"Is that it? Cutting my hand? That is the best you can do? How pathetic." Maleficent laughed before she suddenly felt dizzy and tired. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw that her wound was slowly turning black. She looked at Persephone who was twiddling between her fingers; it was the spindle from the spinning wheel. "No, no. You didn't…"
"Oh, I did. Anything else you have to say?" Persephone asked.
"You cannot win. I… I won't let you… hurt my… Hades." Maleficent moaned before she suddenly fell to the floor and lost consciousness.
"Hmph. Almost too easy." Hecate said as she deactivated her invisibility spell; she made her way over to Persephone and they both glowered down at Maleficent's still body on the floor.
"So is this herb of yours going to finish her or what?" Persephone asked, dropping the spindle next to the sleeping fairy.
"It will, in time. Most mortals would've already expired by now, but it's only weakened her. And I hate to admit it, but she's pretty tough."
"But she WILL succumb, right?"
"Of course she will; nobody is immune to MY herb, not even someone like her. And don't worry. By the time the sun rises two days from now, she'll be gone forever."
"Good. And now, for phase two."
With a shared laugh, the two nasty Goddesses vanished in a puff of dark smoke, leaving Maleficent asleep on the floor.
"Maleficent!" Merryweather gasped as she ran into the room over to the dark fairy's body. She turned her over onto her back and saw that she wasn't responding; then she noticed her fresh wound. She conjured up a handkerchief with her magic and tied it tightly around Maleficent's hand to stop the bleeding. She gave a worried look. "What have they done to you?"