Maleficent flew through the air, her wings flapping as hard as they could. Her eyes were glued to the army approaching. Even though she was soaring high up in the air, she thought she could feel the ground shaking beneath her - or was that her heart pounding?

The king turned around on his mount as Maleficent swooped out of the air, landing on a boulder. Her wings folded behind her as she and the army stared down one another. Dread sat in her stomach like a rock, but her voice was confident and commanding as she yelled for the army to go no further. Even if it cost her life, Maleficent would forever protect the Moors.

Something nagged at the faerie - she felt like there was something she was forgetting. But she had to concentrate on the threat before her.

His army chuckling behind him, the king called to Maleficent that he would not take orders from a winged elf. Anger bubbled up inside her, chasing away some of the fear as she retorted that he was no king to her.

And then the king told his soldiers to bring him Maleficent's head.

Panic shot through Maleficent. Her heart jumped and began to beat faster, as if this would prevent it from ever stopping. But the army was already advancing on her, and Maleficent hoped they wouldn't sense her fear. She announced for the creatures of the Moors to arise and stand with her, but did not find out who, if anyone, actually came to her aid. Her only response was a voice, echoing at first but then all too sharp, exclaiming, "Maleficent! It's just a dream, wake up!"

With a start, Maleficent's eyes snapped open, and she wildly looked around her. But instead of a menacing army, all she saw was Diaval's worried face as he leaned over her.

"Maleficent, are you alright?" Robin asked, hovering into Maleficent's line of vision.

"They want to kill me!" Maleficent gasped, clenching her fists to keep them from trembling.

"No one wants to kill you, Maleficent," Diaval said, brushing strands of hair away from her face. Maleficent hadn't realized that her hair was sticking to her forehead and the back of her neck, plastered there by sweat.

Shaking her head violently, Maleficent said, "No, no, there's an army - they were attacking the Moors - they want my head!"

"It was only a dream," Diaval said soothingly, helping Maleficent to sit up.

"A dream?" Maleficent asked in disbelief. There was no way that had been a dream, it was so real….

"Yes, a dream," Diaval said. "Remember, Aurora said there is peace between the humans and the Moors?"

So she had. Maleficent began to calm down as she realized Diaval was right - it was only a nightmare.

Why was Maleficent having these dreams? She had never been haunted by nightmares before. And these were so vivid….

Maleficent sighed and glanced around the tree. The inky black sky was beginning to soften to grey, signaling the approach of a new dawn.

"I'm sorry I woke you up," Maleficent said quietly.

"No, it's fine," Diaval replied, sitting back. "It's nearly morning anyway. I suppose we could leave for Aurora's castle even now, unless either one of you want to try to get another hour of sleep?"

"I'd like to go now, it that's alright," Maleficent said, hoping that a bit of flying and adventure would take her mind off her nightmares.

"Robin?" Diaval inquired, looking expectantly at Robin.

It occurred to Maleficent that Robin might not want to go to the castle, considering his dislike of humans. Indeed, Robin looked quite uncomfortable, scratching his head as he searched for words.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Maleficent told him. "I can take care of myself, and besides, I'll be with Aurora and Diaval."

"No, I'll come," Robin said with a little sigh. Maleficent felt a bit guilty that he was doing this for her, but before she could say anything, Robin winked at her and said, "Besides, I could use the exercise. I've been feeling a little fat lately."

Maleficent laughed as she got to her feet. "Stop it, Robin, you're not fat," she giggled. Robin always knew how to cheer her up.

"You're right, I'm not! It's physically impossible for me to be anything other than dashing," Robin teased.

"I thought vanity was Diaval's thing."

Diaval, who had just turned into a raven, gave a squawk of protest. Maleficent dove out of the

tree, laughing, Robin right behind her.

Soaring through the sky gave Maleficent a chance to forget about her nightmare as the joy of flying consumed her. She didn't know what she would ever do without her wings.

…

The guards at the front gates looked astonished when Maleficent and Robin landed before them. They looked more astounded still when Diaval transformed into a man and said, "Hello, we would like to request an audience with Queen Aurora."

The guards glanced between Maleficent, Robin, and Diaval. The taller one cleared his throat and asked, "And who might you be?"

"I am Diaval, this is Robin, and this is Maleficent, all of the Moors," Diaval said. The scrawnier one of the guards blanched as the other scoffed.

"Maleficent, Protector of the Moors? Lady Maleficent is a woman, not a girl," he said.

"Unless this is your daughter, also named Maleficent?" the other one suggested, looking at Diaval.

"What?!" Maleficent and Diaval both cried, staring at the guards in utter disbelief. Robin doubled over in laughter, and Maleficent fought the urge to swipe him out of the air.

"No, no, no, she's most definitely not my daughter," Diaval assured the guards as Maleficent made a great show of gagging. "Maleficent, er, performed a spell that made her like this. Ask the Queen if you will, she can confirm it."

"Fine, I will take you to the Queen," the taller guard said.

Maleficent stared at the castle as the guard escorted her, Robin, and Diaval up a drawbridge. It seemed larger than it had always looked from the Moors.

"Would it really be that bad to be my daughter?" Diaval asked Maleficent.

"Yes," Maleficent answered immediately, enjoying teasing the raven-man. Diaval cocked an eyebrow, and Robin chuckled. He seemed to find the entire thing very entertaining. "Okay, maybe not. As long as I didn't inherit your bird brains."

Diaval groaned as they entered the castle, protesting that ravens were "actually very smart." Maleficent was speechless as she gazed at the sights around her.

Aurora's castle was very fine looking. The soft-grey stone was pretty, but Maleficent was a bit wary of it. It felt dead compared to the rocks in the Moors, which always emitted a sense of being alive and magic. Tapestries lined the walls, their colors pleasing to the eye. Maleficent smiled when she saw some of the decorations depicted the Moors and other areas of nature. The people Maleficent came across - mostly servants - were happy and content. Being so enraptured by the sights around her, Maleficent did not notice the curious and startled looks cast her way.

"So this is where Stefan wants to live," Maleficent thought. She could see why. It was a lovely place, but so out of tune with nature. The bright tapestries and vases of flowers could not disguise that. It was the kind of place Maleficent would be happy to explore for a few hours, but she would not be sorry to leave and return home to the Moors.

The guard stopped at a door and knocked. A moment later, Aurora's voice called, "Enter."

Behind the door was a small study. Aurora sat at a desk with a small, wizened old man standing before her. He had obviously been lecturing her on something. There was a map spread before Aurora, and a small slim stick was still pointing at a spot, despite the intrusion.

Aurora's face lit up when she saw who was standing behind the guard. She jumped up, her chair screeching against the floor, and hurried over to them. "Godmo - Maleficent, Diaval, Robin! I didn't realize you were coming," she smiled, pushing past the guard to hug Maleficent. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," said Diaval as he and Aurora embraced. "Everything's fine. I had an idea yesterday on helping Maleficent return to her normal form."

"Really?" Aurora exclaimed, looking excitedly and a little relieved. "That's fantastic!"

"Hey, what's wrong with me now?" Maleficent asked, crossing her arms.

"Nothing," Aurora said, shaking her head. "I apologize, I didn't mean it like that." She turned to the guard. "Thank you for seeing them here. You are dismissed."

The guard left. "It's so wonderful to see you all," Aurora gushed, as though they had been parted for the longest time. "How are you all?"

"We're well, thank you," Diaval said. Before Aurora could reply, the old professor cleared his throat. Aurora looked back at him and deflated slightly.

Giving a sigh, Aurora said, "I have to return to my lesson. Diaval, you know the palace well enough. Do you want to go to my room or the library?"

"I'd like to take a look around the library," Diaval said. Aurora nodded.

"Alright, then I will meet you there in about an hour's time," she said.

"Until then," said Diaval, bowing himself out of the door.

"I'll see you in a while," Maleficent said, smiling at Aurora before leaving. Robin hovered next to her, his eyes darting around. "Robin, relax. Everything is fine."

"Aye, I know," Robin said nervously. "But I don't like this place. Not at all."

"I think it's nice, but I wouldn't like to live here," Maleficent told him. "No room to fly."

To prove her point, Maleficent stretched out her wings. She jumped as one of her wings knocked over a vase and it crashed to the ground.

"Oh! Sorry!" Maleficent said, blushing as a servant came rushing up to clean the mess. "I'm sorry.…"

Looking rather annoyed, the servant looked up at Maleficent. Her expression turned to one of bewilderment. "Who're you?" she grunted.

Before Maleficent could reply, Diaval called, "Maleficent, Robin, come on."

The servant's eyes widened, and she backed away from Maleficent slightly.

"I'm sorry," Maleficent said one last time before hurrying after Diaval, Robin at her side. Once they were out of earshot, Maleficent asked, "Why did she look so afraid?"

"Not used to seeing you young like this, I suppose," Robin said. Maleficent thought he sounded as though he were hiding something, but decided that his unease of being in the castle was affecting his tone.

"So," Maleficent said as she caught up to Diaval, "what language is the scroll in anyway?"

"It's a sorcerer's language," Diaval said as they turned a corner. Maleficent's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh!" she cried, her voice echoing down the corridor. "I have a friend who's a sorceress! Well, part sorceress. She can translate this for us!"

Diaval gave her a startled glance, then looked straight ahead once more. Maleficent's enthusiasm faded slightly when Diaval didn't get excited. In fact, he looked almost disappointed, or worried.

"That's great, but I think the matter is more finding the remedy than just translating the spell," Diaval said.

"Oh," Maleficent said, disappointed that her grand suggestion was useless. "Well, maybe Katherine can still help us out. Or Lydia."

"Who are they?" Diaval asked. Maleficent didn't notice that he sounded like he was forcing polite interest.

"My friends from the Moors," Maleficent said. "They're sisters, and part faerie, part sorceress. Katherine is around my age, and Lydia a year older than Katherine. Katherine is very nice, friendly, and bubbly. Quite like Aurora, really, but more studious. She taught me to read, though I've never really read anything. Lydia is very different from Katherine. She's a bit mean, actually, but she means well. She used to like to spend time with Katherine and me more when we were little, but lately, she's been a bit distant. Katherine says that she's focusing on becoming a stronger sorceress."

"Interesting," Diaval said in a stiff voice. Maleficent frowned - not because of his reaction, though.

"I've just realized, I've spent so much time with you and Aurora, I haven't seen Katherine or Lydia in days!" Maleficent exclaimed. She hadn't seen Stefan in several days, either, but she supposed he would be back soon. She hoped he wouldn't be upset if he came to the Moors that day and she was not there. "No offense, of course. I didn't mean it like spending time with you and Aurora is a bother or anything. I love being with you two and Robin."

"I was wondering when you were going to say something about me," Robin said. "I thought you'd almost forgotten me."

Maleficent giggled. "You silly faerie, I could never forget you!"

Grinning, Robin said, "Good to know, lass. Good to know."

"Here we are," Diaval said suddenly. He pushed open a large door, and the trio entered a large room unlike any place Maleficent had ever seen before.

There were perhaps fifteen bookcases, each eight feet high. Hundreds of books were fit on the

the shelves, and Maleficent was impressed with how many books there were. She wasn't sure, with her limited knowledge of humans, but from a conversation that had passed between Katherine and Stefan, books weren't a common luxury.

"I'm going to go take a look around in that desk," Diaval said. "Do you want to go find a book?"

"I'm not a big reader, but I'll take a look around," Maleficent said with a shrug. She went over to the nearest bookcase and picked a random book bound in a faded green cover. She opened it to discover poetry. Maleficent tried to read one poem, but found despite it's sweet subject - love - she didn't care for it. So she closed the book and moved on to the next.

"Not to your liking?" Robin asked.

"No," Maleficent said just as Diaval yelled out. Maleficent whipped around. "Diaval! What is it?"

"There's a mouse in here," Diaval said in mild disgust. "It tried to bite me!"

"Do mice actually bite people?"

"I don't know, but this one tried to bite me!" Diaval said, glaring into the drawer. "It's a demon mouse…."

Maleficent rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, walking over to the drawer. Settled in a nest of papers, a mouse looked up at her, its whiskers twitching. "Hi, there, little one."

Slowly reaching in, Maleficent stroked the mouse behind its ears. It closed its eyes and leaned into her touch. Carefully, she scooped it out of the drawer. The mouse faced Diaval, and Maleficent swore she saw it give him a nasty look.

"See! Demon mouse!" Diaval cried.

"No, he's cute," Maleficent defended. "Maybe he only likes faeries. Or he just knows you're a bird, and doesn't like you."

"How nice," Diaval scoffed, looking into the drawer as Maleficent walked away.

"I'm going to take him outside, alright?"

"But you don't know how to get outside and back."

"Oh, right," Maleficent said. "I'll keep him with me for now. Maybe he can come to the Moors."

"That thing is not coming home with us," Diaval said. "If it does, I'll eat it."

"See, Diaval, this is why the mouse doesn't like you," Maleficent pointed out. Robin laughed and flew to Maleficent's cupped hands to take a closer look at the creature.

"He seems like a nice little fellow," Robin called to Diaval. Diaval grunted in disbelief before focusing on his search.

Maleficent took the mouse to another corner and sat down, petting the mouse gently. After a moment, the mouse moved to the edge of her hands and looked down, as if it wanted to be let on the floor. Slightly taken aback by its intelligence, Maleficent set it down. Before she could stop it, the mouse went scurrying to the wall, ran down a few feet, and disappeared in a crevice in the wall.

"Well," Robin said, "that was… quite the mouse."

Smirking in Diaval's direction, Maleficent said, "A pity he went away, I rather liked him."

...

Hey Malefifreaks! Hope you liked this chapter. Sorry it took me a while to post, but... life happened. (I drew a picture, discovered Tumblr, and got writer's block, among other things.) However, next chappie is already halfway done, so hopefully I can get that up this week.

Forgot to mention this in the last chapter, but that sorcerer's language? Actually Latin. Mangled Latin, though, because I got it off Google Translate. Google Translate isn't always very accurate...

Thanks for reading! Please review. Constructive criticism is welcomed!

Kitty