Maleficent had been wrong.

Things were quite different. Or, at least that particular day was quite different than her normal routine. However, most of the changes seemed to be good. For one thing, there was Aurora and Diaval. Though Maleficent had only met them that morning, she felt a very strong connection to them. She was guided by some sixth sense that allowed her to embrace their friendship, and she already knew that she would trust the both of them with her life. While these instincts perplexed Maleficent somewhat, she was able to brush them aside and enjoy her time with the pair, especially since all her other friends seemed surprisingly absent.

The Moors had undergone change, too. The atmosphere was more relaxed and light-hearted without the possibility of a war looming, and Maleficent loved it. The only thing that brought her down was the creatures' reactions to her. They seemed wary of her, but Maleficent figured that considering they were used to her being older, this was natural. They must have been very taken aback at what they were seeing. But the shock would certainly wear off before long. The wallerbogs had already accepted her condition, including her in one of their famous mudfights. Aurora had joined, and Maleficent was mildly surprised at what she was capable of. She was, after all, a queen, and as far as Maleficent knew, queens didn't engage in mudfights. But Aurora did, and she was quite good at the game.

After Maleficent, Aurora, and eventually Diaval, won the mudfight, they returned to the Rowan Tree. Diaval had been unfortunate enough to fall into the bog, and was completely covered beak-to-tail in mud. The raven flapped his wings and cawed in distress. Maleficent couldn't help but find amusement in Diaval's situation as she offered to wash him off.

Diaval crowed, and hopped away from Maleficent, shaking his head. "He doesn't appreciate human baths," Aurora explained, a small smile on her face.

Maleficent shook her head. "Why not? Honestly, you silly bird…"

Diaval seemed insulted by this. Raising an eyebrow, Maleficent said, "You're covered in mud. How on earth do you expect to get all that out just by preening?"

A moment later, Diaval stood as a man before Maleficent. She gave a small smirk at how dirty he was. Diaval was obviously uncomfortable, but managed to hang onto his dignity as he declared that he would not take a human bath. Maleficent snickered - he sounded like a child.

"Diaval, it'll be much quicker," wheedled Aurora.

"I'm not taking a human bath," Diaval persisted.

Maleficent playfully rolled her eyes at Diaval's behaviour, and continued to banter. A minute later, she gave up once Diaval described a bath as "sitting naked in a pool of water."

"Alright, if that's how you feel about it, then preen away," Maleficent said with a chuckle.

"Thank you," said Diaval sarcastically before turning back into a bird and flying up onto another branch to clean himself in his preferred style.

"What a vain little creature," Maleficent commented, sitting down in her nest. Aurora smiled as she kneeled down next to Maleficent.

"He can be sometimes, can't he?" said Aurora fondly.

"Have I got any mud left in my hair?" Maleficent asked Aurora as she ran a hand through her hair. "It's horrible when you miss some and then it dries… So itchy."

"No, you look fine," said Aurora, giving a nod. Maleficent was about to thank her when she paused and glanced around the tree. Something was off….

Maleficent realized that she didn't have her normal tiny braid. She took a thin lock of hair, and began to braid it. "That mudfight was fun. You're a really great ally."

"Thank you," Aurora said, bobbing her head. She started toying a bit with her dress, still grimy from the battle.

"Diaval wasn't half bad, either, once he got involved," Maleficent added. "Does he join in mudfights often?"

Giving a small shrug, Aurora said, "Sometimes, but he doesn't fancy getting his feathers too mussed up."

Maleficent laughed. "I can tell."

From above them, Diaval gave a caw and flew off. "I think we offended him," said Maleficent, amused. She finished off her braid, and then fingered it. She had missed some steps up at the top before she had gotten into the groove of it. Maleficent frowned, and started over.

"Perhaps a little."

"Silly bird," Maleficent said affectionately. She felt the beginning of her braid, and sighed. She had messed up again, so Maleficent undid it and prepared to start over once more.

"Do you want me to do that?" Aurora offered. Maleficent froze for a moment - she had never had anyone but her friends do her hair before. But Aurora was a friend, right? Just a few years older… Or younger, actually.

"Thanks," Maleficent found herself saying. She got up and reseated herself by Aurora, who immediately began weaving a tiny braid down the side of Maleficent's head. "So, is it hard being a queen?"

"A little," Aurora admitted. "Especially in the human kingdom. I'm still getting accustomed to royal life. But the Moors are amazing. Everyone's so kind, and I'm sure that this is the most beautiful place in the world."

Maleficent smiled at that last sentence. "I think it is, too," she said. "What is life with the humans like?"

"It's fine," said Aurora. "There are some very nice humans. But like in any species, there have also been some people who aren't so nice. And I prefer living in the Moors than in the castle."

It struck Maleficent that Aurora lived in the castle that Stefan had announced he would someday reside in. It seemed a bit funny to her that while Stefan was so eager to live there, Aurora would much rather spend her days in the Moors. But from what it sounded like, Maleficent's parents - who had always thought that there were good humans - had been right.. Aurora was living proof of that. "Who are some of the nice humans?" asked Maleficent, looking at Aurora in the corners of her eyes. Aurora's slight blush and small smile did not go unnoticed by Maleficent. "Are you being courted by anyone?"

Aurora's smile widened. "Well, I've very close to one man, Prince Phillip."

Maleficent also smiled. "That's lovely."

"He's a wonderful person. He's very kind, thoughtful, and brave. He's also intelligent, although he does have his moments…."

"All males do," Maleficent quipped. Aurora laughed just as a muddy black raven with a scroll in his talons swooped into the branches of the tree.

"That's very hurtful," Diaval said as he turned into a man. Maleficent shrugged.

"You can't deny the truth."

"But it's not the truth."

"It is."

"No, because I'm a male, and I do not have any of these 'moments.'"

"Yes, you do."

"Name one," Diaval challenged.

"Your refusal to take a bath."

"That doesn't count."

"It does, doesn't it, Aurora?"

"It does," Aurora confirmed, grinning as she finished off Maleficent's braid.

"Aurora!" exclaimed Diaval, his mouth dropping open. "I'm wounded."

Aurora laughed. "Forgive me. Where did you go?"

"I forgot the scroll at the bogs, and went to fetch it," Diaval said before turning back into a bird and flying back to his branch to continue preening, bringing his scroll with him.

"Thanks for braiding my hair. Would you like me to do yours?" Maleficent asked. Aurora nodded.

"Yes, thank you."

Maleficent once again moved so that she was sitting behind Aurora. She pulled back the blonde hair and begun to braid it. "What's so important about that scroll of Diaval's? He's been with it all day, except after the mudfight. I suppose he was so worried about his pretty little feathers getting dirty that he forgot it for a moment."

"It's the scroll that has the spell you used to turn yourself into a child. Diaval has been examining it, hoping to find a way to reverse the spell."

Unable to think of anything else to say, Maleficent just said, "Oh."

Aurora was silent for a moment before asking, "Are you happy being as you are right now?"

Maleficent blinked in surprise, having not expected that question. "Well, yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Diaval was worried that the knowledge of having an entire life you had forgotten would overwhelm and upset you."

"I'm perfectly fine," Maleficent said slowly. To be honest, she hadn't put much thought into the situation. It was just so unreal. She just remembered going to sleep after a completely normal day, and then waking up to find an unfamiliar raven dozing above her. Then the raven woke up, turned into a man, and told her that she was really an adult faerie who had done a spell that turned her into a child, which lead to the most abnormal day of her life.

"I'm glad to hear that," said Aurora.

"How about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you alright with everything that's going on?"

Aurora nodded, nearly tugging her braid out of Maleficent's hands. "Yes, I am. It's… curious seeing you so much younger all of a sudden. You're different from the Maleficent I know, but you're still the same person I love. No matter what form you are or what memories you hold, you're still my wonderful, caring Godmother, and I love you."

A smile appeared on Maleficent's face as she finished Aurora's braid. She tied the end with a bit of brightly colored ribbon lying in her nest, and then Aurora turned to face Maleficent. "I love you, too," Maleficent said as she held out her arms, and the two embraced.

Even though Maleficent had only known Aurora for a few hours, or so it seemed to her, the words came so naturally. And she meant them. She felt like Aurora was her family. Maleficent felt happy and safe in Aurora's presence, and she knew that she would trust Aurora with her deepest secrets. Perhaps she would even tell her about Stefan….

…

The sun slowly set in the sky, and Lydia was still trying to make sense of what on earth was going on. "Maybe that's it," Lydia thought as she paced in the forest near Maleficent's home, grinding her teeth. "Maybe this is a supernatural act, maybe Maleficent somehow got in contact with an extraterrestrial being, and convinced them to make her younger…. That's insane. You're insane! You are going insane!"

"Shut up!" Lydia hissed at herself, only supporting the theory that she was becoming crazy. Katherine whimpered. Trying to calm herself, Lydia stopped pacing and turned to her sister. "I don't get it. What happened to Maleficent?"

Katherine trembled, her shoulders hunched like she was trying her hardest to disappear. "I - I don't kn-know, m-my l-l-lady," she said, stammering worse than usual.

Lydia's heart skipped a beat, and she stared at her sister as something clicked. Katherine, too, had become younger, just like Maleficent. But from what Lydia had heard eavesdropping on Maleficent and Queen Aurora, Maleficent didn't remember her adult life. Katherine had remembered her entire life. She said it was a failed potion that caused the change, and Maleficent had used a spell. But both situations were far too similar to simply be a coincidence…

"Katherine," Lydia began slowly. Her eyes became dark and stormy as rage began to churn inside her. She took a step toward her sister, who shrank back. "What aren't you telling me?"

...

Hello, Malefifreaks! Again, sorry for the long wait. My beta and I have been busy, but I've already got the next chapter written, and it'll be posted once my beta finds the time to edit it.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review and tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is welcome!

Thanks for reading!

Kitty