A/N: Prompt from an anon; Thistlewit, Flittle, and Knotgrass talk about Phillip and Aurora (and Maleficent). Thanks!
"I just don't understand why nothing's happening," Flittle frowned. Plucking another blackberry from the bush and dropping it into the small pouch she held, she flew up to a thicket higher on the hill, "It may not be True Love, but they're perfect for each other."
"And they make such a cute couple," Thistlewit gushed, not paying attention as her twirl in the air to accompany her words made Knotgrass have to swerve around her.
"Watch where you're going!" the red pixie snapped, tugging her dress back into position and adjusting her hat before going back to her berry picking, "Even if you are correct that Aurora and Phillip are meant to be, it does not mean you must lose sense of your surroundings, you pea brained fool!"
Frowning, Thistlewit held her own bag of berries close to her chest. "That's not very nice," she mumbled, and twirled again, flitting to the thicket opposite where Knotgrass is. Once it was obvious Knotgrass didn't care to retort, she hummed, plucking a thick berry. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Can they be meant to be even if they're not True Love, though?" she asked, "Is there more than one kind of True Love?"
Flittle paused. Cocking her head, her butterflies pausing as well around her, she turned to see Knotgrass' response.
"But of course!" Knotgrass blustered, glaring at the youngest pixie, "There's no way someone as sweet and innocent - "
" - and beautiful!" Flittle interjected excitedly, having already anticipated where the other pixie was going.
" - yes, and beautiful, now let me finish, please, Flittle, thank you!" Huffing, Knotgrass started again. "There's no way someone as sweet and innocent and beautiful as our sweet Aurora is should be…" Her mouth opened and closed as she searched for a word, and once finding it, she straightened, "Shackled to someone like - well, like Maleficent." Dropping into a whisper at the other faerie's name, Knotgrass shrieked, jerking practically into the blackberry bush when a loud, disapproving caw sounded from somewhere around her.
"I'm just saying," she called out, struggling out of the thorns and ending up hitting and kicking Flittle and Thistlewit as they flew in to help haul her out, "That Prince Phillip would be the better choice for our queen. That's all."
"That so."
Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit froze, automatically recognizing the cool female voice that preceded a dark, horned figure melting from the shadows of the trees next to them. "Oh dear me," Knotgrass whispered over Thistlewit's squeak, her hands flying up to her mouth, and Flittle glanced quickly back and forth between her companions before swallowing and sinking down, trying to make herself less noticeable.
"I believe," Maleficent stated coolly, coming to a stop with her chin up and arms crossed, "That is something that Aurora would be capable of deciding for herself." Seemingly calm, she barely tilted her head at Diaval's entrance, the large raven swooping in and alighting on her shoulder, but her gaze sharpened at his jeering chitter of agreement. "Do you not agree?"
"Right, right, of course," the three pixies concurred, their heads bobbling. They were still hesitant to engage with Maleficent, and completely unwilling to test her control.
Maleficent raised her eyebrow, and the pixies cowered again.
"Right then," Knotgrass shook her bag, "Ladies, I believe that we have gathered enough berries for our stores."
"Yes, yes, of course, for our stores," Flittle chimed in, for good measure pulling the drawstring of her bag closed, nervously tittering as Thistlewit, in her haste to close her own bag, elbowed her arm.
Finally getting her bag situated and brushing blonde curls out of her eyes, Thistlewit flew up. "Well, uhm, have a good day," she forced herself to say, waving her fingers awkwardly as she started her retreat, the other two joining her after quick goodbyes as well, their small wings blurring and whirring as they sped off.
Maleficent pursed her lips. "Well, Diaval?" she asked, striding forward to pluck the blackberry nearest her.
Ruffling his feathers, Diaval made a coughing noise before hopping down Maleficent's arms to snatch a berry for himself. Snapping it up into the air and catching it, he swallowed and took off, large wings beating.
Watching him circle the area, Maleficent popped another berry into her mouth. "I wonder," she sighed, looking back down, the tips of her talons barely pressing against her lips, "If there truly is more than one kind of True Love."