Freedom---For a Price

Maleficent sat in her cell, wondering what to best commit suicide with. There wasn't much. The metal room was mostly empty except for a small bed, a bowl of water and a plate of bread. Unless she wanted to choke herself to death, this didn't seem like a good place to end one's life. She sighed. When one of the Organization members appeared to check that she hadn't died or escaped, she would ask for a rope. She could tie a good hangman's knot and that would be that. She wondered why she was so depressed. Was it because of Xemnas' insane plan? Part of it. Was it because Morgan le Fay had been released from her centuries old confinement in the Palace of Memories by a madman? Definitely part of it. But that was not all of it. Maleficent was worried about Tine. Not worried about Xemnas snatching Tine for his plans…but worried about Tine herself. She couldn't understand these feelings. She shouldn't be able to care for a living weapon…but Tine was more than that, wasn't she? Thanks to Pete, she was a thinking being with her own personality. She apparently harshly rejected anyone trying to use her for their purposes and was deeply suspicious of anyone who approached, claiming to be a friend. How did she know this? Maleficent wasn't sure about that either. She hadn't even known that she cared about Tine. She hadn't known until Xemnas had referred to the experiment as her daughter. Then he had said that Xaldin had thought her pretty. Maleficent had felt a giant red surge of protective anger, like an ocean wave. Had this Xaldin done anything inappropriate to her daughter? If he had, then she would have his eyes! Where had that come from? Maleficent never had wanted any children, never even liked children. But…it seemed like now she had a daughter.

"Perhaps I am going insane from being confined for so long, with so little food and water" she said out loud. That was true. She had long ago enhanced her body with magic, altering both her physiology and appearance. Had anyone else been confined under these conditions, they would have died of starvation and thirst. She stiffened suddenly as she felt the presence of a Nobody. A man in a black robe, the hood pulled over his face appeared through a Dark Corridor. Knowing it was Xemnas, back for more verbal abuse, she sighed. But then she looked more closely. The moonlight streaming through the barred window of her cell showed that this man was much thinner.

"So, having a good time in there?" he asked.

Maleficent was silent.

"I'd bet you'd like to get out of there, wouldn't you?" the man asked.

"Why are you baiting me?" Maleficent asked.

The hooded and robed man sighed. "I'm not. Now listen to me. I can let you out of here." He was carrying a long, thin object wrapped in white paper. He unwrapped it to show her staff.

"What are you doing with it?" Maleficent asked harshly.

"I took it from the Treasure Vault" the man said. "It's a device you cast magic through, right?" he said, a teasing note in his voice. "So as I was saying…I can free you, but you have to do something for me. Got it memorized?"

"What is it you want me to do?" Maleficent asked.

"I want you to find Sora, and tell him about Xemnas. Tell him Xemnas is crazier than any of them ever thought. Tell them that he's released Morgan le Fay, and ask them to tell Merlin…although he probably knows by now."

"I will" said Maleficent. "Now, how do you propose to free me?"

The hooded man raised his hand and a Dark Corridor appeared on the back wall. Maleficent stepped through it gratefully, after taking her staff from the man.

After she was gone, Axel took of the hood. "Sorry about the identity protection, witch" he said. "But I can't have you reveal me if you do get caught." Then he teleported as well.