Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or Maleficent, excluding Andy.
A/N: As much as I love Kristin Bauer van Straten, I'm leaning more towards Angelina Jolie's portrayal of Maleficent for the sake of character development.
Past
"Maleficent? I'm not sure as to why you need the baby. What is it going to prove?" Diaval asked, watching Maleficent hold the baby stiffly in her arms. It was an odd sight, the fallen fairy with a baby.
"Pride, Diaval. Pride," she said in a smooth voice. Lilliana giggled at the fairy. "Diaval, tell me. What is it about babies that people are in love with? Is it their youth? Or do they possess some special magic before age strips it away?"
"Ummm. No. I believe it to be their innocence," Diaval stated, earning a stoic look from Maleficent.
"And what is the obsession with innocence compared to wealth or to power?" she questioned, observing the baby. "They look like little beasts. This one is a little beastie."
"All good things stem from innocence. That is to say that innocence is the root of all that is good."
Maleficent arched an eyebrow at the little beastie, earning a giggle from her. The baby reached out her tiny arms towards Maleficent's head.
"What does the little beastie want?"
"I think she likes you," Diaval admitted, trying to suppress a laugh at the situation.
Maleficent growled at the little beastie. The baby's brown eyes widened in curiosity, but then lighted up with amusement as she reached out and grabbed onto Maleficent's black horns.
Diaval let out a loud laugh while Maleficent glared at him. He coughed and tried to suppress his amusement further.
"You said that infants are the root of all that is good," Maleficent began slowly, formulating her thoughts.
"Yes," Diaval nodded.
"And that is to say that infants are the purest manifestation of good?" she questioned.
"I believe so. Yes."
"So, that brings me to my plan. Out of pride, I wish to change this one's fate," she explained.
Diaval furrowed his brows. "I'm sorry, but I do not follow."
"This baby possesses the power of invincibility, meaning she is immune to any evil of the realm," Maleficent explained, holding the baby in her arms. "She was supposed to be the kingdom's manifestation of purity and goodness. But how much more interesting would it be, if we were to change that?"
Diaval allowed his brain to absorb the ideas of the fallen fairy.
"This one was destined to grow up and become the kingdom's next queen. She was meant to break the curse, meaning to destroy my happy ending," Maleficent elaborated. Diaval nodded his head slowly. "I want to create the exact opposite. I want to raise her in my image, to teach her my philosophies, to make a fool out of Stefan, his memory, and his plans for his daughter."
"You want to make her a villain," he stated.
Maleficent clicked her tongue in disapproval. "'Villain' is so negatively connotated. I'd like to think of us as the non-conformists. Our actions aren't out of sheer vice; we simply have motivations that aren't exactly ideal to the others."
"And how do you plan to shape her life?"
"By teaching her the one thing that most people flee at the sight of, the one thing that most people speak of in hushed voices, the one thing that most people fear."
"And what is that?"
"Magic."
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Eighteen to Nineteen Years Later
"Let go of me! Ow! Stop it!" Lilliana pleaded. An older, middle aged woman was pulling her by the hair and pushed her onto the ground. Lilliana let out a gasp of relief from the pain.
"You are the most ungrateful child I've ever had," she slurred.
"I'm not your child!" she hissed, placing a hand on the back of her head to feel the damage. "Are you drunk? It's only 4 in the afternoon."
"Do not question me, you worthless wench," the woman said, pointing a dirty finger at her, which she swiped away. The woman angrily pushed her face back. "You should be more thankful. I've given you a home and food for the last sixteen years when I could've just left you to rot on the streets where I found you."
"You've given me nothing but grief and sorrow for the last sixteen years. I do all of the work in this household; I even try to earn some money, which you just go around and waste at the pub getting drunk and trying to sleep with some filthy pirates. You've never provided food for me. I either have to steal it from the market or find it in the forest. You've never given me a home. I'm not even your child. Never was, never am. I would be ashamed if I was. I am nineteen years old, and I don't deserve this treatment anymore!" Lilliana yelled at the top of her lungs, her face reddening with hatred and anger.
The woman met her eyes with furious ones, raised her hand, and slapped Lilliana hard across the face. Then, she pointed a finger at the door. "Leave," she demanded.
Lilliana held her face in shock, hissing from the sharp sting. Her eyes teared from the pain, but this was her chance, dancing right in front of her. She swallowed her pride and looked up to meet the woman's smug gaze. Lilliana smiled. "Finally," she laughed. She grabbed the knapsack she had hidden in the potato barrel for several months and walked promptly out the door without a final glance back. She was free.
Lilliana ran across the field, over the small grass hill, and into the bustling streets of the business center of the city of Hamelin - the market area. She was lost in a sea of people, feeling the rush of the busy urban life. There was an endless myriad of different colors, sounds, smells. It was a little overwhelming at first. It was about late afternoon to early evening, but the streets were still packed tightly.
In the midst of her adrenaline rush of freedom, she stopped and realized her situation. She no longer had a guaranteed home, or at least a place to rest for the night. Where would she go? Should she venture into the woods? Lilliana thought about it first, but remembered the tales of children disappearing into the foliage, trailing after a mysterious tune.
Maybe an inn would be her best bet. She reached into her knapsack and counted her coins. She had saved up whatever she could, sometimes even reaching into the money box of the woman she lived with in order to support herself for the future. Now, Lilliana had a large enough sum to support herself for a lifetime if she lived decently and modestly.
"Excuse me sir, where can I find an inn?" Lilliana asked a man selling fish, which appeared to be rotten.
"An inn? All the inns are down at the Flood Gate near the docks. I'd be careful though. That Flood Gate area is no place for a pretty young thing like yourself to get lost in, especially with all those pirates," he warned.
"There are no other inns other than the ones in the Flood Gate area?" she asked.
He shook his head, flopping his wispy white hair around. "Nope. Sorry. Only in the Flood Gate."
"Well, thank you." Lilliana released a sigh. The woman who took Lilliana in was a regular at the Flood Gate area. She wouldn't be surprised if she ran into her there, not that it actually mattered. That woman wanted nothing to do with Lilliana, and Lilliana wanted nothing to do with that woman. So, she pushed her way through the crowded streets and made her way towards the infamous Flood Gate.
The streets in the Flood Gate were more emptier than those of the market place. There were only a few people out of the streets, mostly fishermen transporting their final catches into the warehouses. The smell of the Flood Gate was rather...disgusting. It smelled rancid like grime, fish, and sewer all combined. It was difficult for Lilliana to ignore the putrid smell. Nonetheless, she stepped into the first inn she found, Dead Man's Folly.
Lilliana entered through the front door, greeted by a loud atmosphere of men talking, laughing, and drinking. She made her way through the crowded room and found a seat at the bar. The barmaid acknowledged her presence with a blank, imperious glance.
"What can I do for you?" the barmaid asked in a bored voice.
"I was wondering if I could get a room?" Lilliana asked, raising her voice above the noise of the pub.
"Sorry. No vacancy," she said in a rather unapologetic voice.
"Really? Is there any other inn I can check into?" Lilliana asked, a little disappointed.
"All inns are full. You chose the worst time to be travelling, during shipment season. Everyone knows not to travel during shipment season," the barmaid scoffed.
Lilliana narrowed her eyes at her, biting her tongue to keep from snapping at her and causing an unnecessary scene. This wasn't the place to be demanding attention. She walked away from the bar, heading towards the door and most likely towards the woods, but someone bumped into her, spilling a drink over her shirt.
"Ohh! I am so sorry there mate," the male's voice laughed loudly. "Wait, you're no mate. You're a lady!"
"Very well spotted," Lilliana hissed, walking away from the man.
"Well wait there missy! Where are you going?" the man asked. He had a rather nice face with brown hair, which was tousled around wildly in different directions, slight scruff, and bright green eyes. He was probably around early to mid twenties, but he had a certain air to him that screamed trouble despite his attractive features. It was probably the tattoo that she spotted on his wrist, a skull. Despite his youth and rather innocent appearance, it was plain to see that he was no ordinary man, but a pirate.
"That's none of your concern, now is it?" she said with narrowed eyes, trying to disguise her blush by turning her cheek to avoid his green-eyed gaze.
"No it's not. I just wanted to repay my inexcusable folly with a drink. How about it?" he winked, flashing a sparkling smile. Most girls would have giggled or fainted from glee, but Lilliana tried her best to remain indifferent towards his charm.
Lilliana merely frowned at him. "I don't think so. I'm fine. I'll be going now."
Before she could leave, the man grabbed her wrist. "Come on lass. Have a drink with me."
"I said no the first time, and I'm saying no now. Goodbye," she stated firmly, retracting her wrist from his possession and walking straight out the door.
Night had fallen, and the cold coastal air and fog had now settled over the dark streets. Lilliana released a frustrated sigh. Where was she supposed to go now? Perhaps she could find some barn to sleep in for the night in the countryside. However, that would take another two to three hour walk.
Shoulders slumped from the disappointment of her first adventure, Lilliana began to slowly walk the streets with no exact destination. She walked along the road, admiring the massive sails of the magnificent ships docked at the port. She had always wondered what it would be like to see new lands, to visit foreign soil. Hamelin was a nice town and all, but that was mostly it. She was familiar with the realm she was in, the Enchanted Forest, and its different kingdoms such as the western, eastern, southern, and northern. She was even familiar with the stories of the lands out across sea such as Arendelle. However, she'd heard the tales of travellers venturing into different realms such as Oz, Narnia, and even Wonderland itself. Lilliana wondered what it would be like to visit Wonderland in all its eccentricity. In Wonderland, animals could talk, flowers could sing, and the mushrooms were larger than the people. She longed for fresh if not strange sights.
"Oi! You there!" she heard a voice call out from the road behind her. She ignored it initially, mistaking it for a conversation between two fishermen, but her heart began to pound against her chest when she heard running footsteps trail after her.
When she felt the man's presence close behind her, she began to run. However, the weight of her knapsack was too heavy, and her pursuer caught up to her easily and grabbed her. She let out a scream, but the man wrapped an arm around her mouth, muffling her cries.
"Lass, why are you squirming? It's just me," the man laughed. It was the man from the bar earlier.
He loosened his grip on her, allowing her to speak. "Let me go!" She thrashed her body about in his hold, but he simply laughed. Her small swipes were futile against his muscular body.
"Alright," he said, letting go of her.
"Why did you run after me?" she demanded haughtily, straightening out her wavy brown hair, which had flown about in different directions from her flight.
"Well, the Flood Gate isn't the place to be walking around alone at night, man or woman. I felt bad for what I did earlier and thought it was polite to offer my protection services to a beautiful young lady," he explained with a bow. "Morgan Kidd, at your service."
Lilliana simply stared at the man in front of her. He was a pirate; he was doused in trouble. Lilliana should have simply ran away towards to woods, but here she was, immobilized.
"Well there's no need to stare lass, unless you like what you see," he winked.
"You said that you would promise your protection services to me?" she inquired.
"Aye," he nodded.
"And why should I take your word for it?" she interrogated. "You're a pirate."
"A heavy accusation, but a true one nonetheless. I may be a pirate, but I do have a code of honor," Morgan grinned. "So, I promise to protect you."
"So, how can you live up to your promise?"
"You and I are going to head back to Dead Man's Folly and wait until the bar dies out. Then, we can find a place for you to rest for the night. Simple!" he smiled.
"Why do we have to wait for the bar to die down?"
"So everyone will be passed out and rendered useless until their hangover passes, making it safer to roam the streets," he explained.
"And how long will that take?"
"A good hour or two."
Lilliana bit her tongue, debating her options, but Morgan simply smiled and took her hand without further question, walking back towards Dead Man's Folly. The arrived back at the pub to a loud collection of cheers.
"Atta boy Kidd," a toothless man praised, clapping Morgan on the back.
"Catch of the day boys, reserved for the one and only Kidd," Morgan boasted to the cheering men.
"Excuse me?" Lilliana asked in a panicked voice, but Morgan leaned down and whispered in her ear, sending a blush of red over her cheeks.
"Pride, my darling. Not to worry," he soothed as they walked over to the bar.
The barmaid from earlier raised an eyebrow, shooting Lilliana a questioning look. "Back so soon?" she asked, envy dripping in her words at the sight of Lilliana with the dashing pirate.
"Two glasses and a bottle of rum," Morgan requested, sitting next to Lilliana on a stool.
"Alright, there has to be more than a code of honor behind your reasons for protecting me. What else do you want?" Lilliana began right away.
"No need to be suspicious, lass. Alright, you're right, there are other motivations as to why I am so keen on protecting you," he admitted as the barmaid delivered the bottle of rum and two glasses.
"And what is that?" Lilliana pressed as she watched him pour the alcohol into the glasses.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have seen, and it would be a shame for anyone else to have the honor of calling you theirs," he confessed, his eyes boring into hers. He handed her a glass of rum and waited for her response.
Most girls would have swooned at his words. Their knees would have buckled, and their hearts would have soared into the sky. However, Lilliana couldn't help but simply stare at him in disbelief. There was no way that a simple stranger could possess such a magnitude of emotions and muster up the courage to express them. She was at a loss for words. She took a gulp of her rum, her face distorting at its strong taste, before she responded.
"I'm sure there are plenty of other women out there who possess such beauty," she offered weakly, but Morgan held her gaze.
"I can assure you. I've travelled to many lands, even many realms, but none could compare to you," he assured, swallowing his first glass. He reached for her hand, taking it in his, and leaned in closer to her face. "Beautiful maiden, what is your name?"
Panicked, Lilliana thought of the first name that came to mind as she downed another glass of rum. She didn't know why she chose the name. Perhaps she was reminded of someone during her childhood, but she reasoned that it was wise to start a new life with a new name, one that was different from her own. She needed a strong name, but common enough to hide behind, to deter any beam of spotlight on her life.
"Andrea," she replied without hesitation. "Andrea Lux." She didn't know why she chose "Lux" as her last name; it had a nice ring to it though.
"Andrea Lux," he grinned, taking her hand and kissing it. "A beautiful name. I, Morgan Kidd, by code of honor, promise to protect the Lady Andrea Lux from all dangers and treacheries of the realm, to bring her happiness and joy, and to show her the beauty of the world as she has showed to me tonight by a single glance from her brilliant eyes."
"Do you really mean it, to show me the world?" she asked, a gleam of hope invading her eyes.
Morgan swallowed another gulp of rum, emptying his glass once more. "Aye. What do you think about joining me and my crew aboard the Savage Storm? We've plans to set sail towards the distant land of Arendelle," he offered, seeing Lilliana's, or Andrea's, eyes light up with wonder.
"That sounds incredible!" she exclaimed.
She took another drink of her glass of rum as Morgan admired her intently.
"So, Andrea, why were you out and about on your own? You don't seem to be the seasoned traveller," he pointed out.
Lilliana chewed on the inside of her bottom lip before responding. "I ran away from my home. Well, I guess you couldn't really call it a home. More like a prison," she confessed, sadness in her voice.
"Pray tell," he prompted, sipping his glass.
"Well, there's a lot more to it; it's a rather long, uninteresting story," she said apologetically.
"We have all night, darling."
Lilliana sighed before beginning. "I never knew my parents." Morgan's hand had returned to hers. "A woman found me on the middle of road at night. I was three years old, abandoned because my parents no longer loved me." Lilliana's voice was shaky. "And this woman who found me, she didn't turn out to be any better. She was cruel, heartless. I didn't even understand why she put up with me for so long. I think it's because she needed someone to clean up around the house, and she knew I didn't have the courage to leave her, until today."
"Well, you no longer have to bear the burdens of your past. You can leave it all behind, and walk towards your new future," Morgan smiled, which Lilliana returned weakly. Her new life began today.
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Lilliana felt that her eyes were closed and that her cheek was pressed up against a sticky surface. A painful ache throbbed against her temples, sending a wave of nausea over her sore body. Her bleary eyes opened slowly, sending a sharp pain to her already pounding head. She slowly raised her head, assessing the damage of her surroundings. Passed out bodies were piled in different areas of the pub, all hungover from their night of drinking and frivolity. Lilliana groaned as she pulled her head up from the wooden surface of the bar, which was moist with a collection of different poisons and alcohols.
"Morgan?" she called in a groggy, dry voice. She looked to the seat where he had been sitting the night before, but her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach when she found it empty. A feeling of anxiety passed over her, fully awakening her body to a state of alarm and confusion.
"Morgan?" she called again, a little louder, earning a collection of annoyed groans from the hungover men in the room, She rose to her feet, carefully stepping over passed out bodies after scanning their faces. None of them were Morgan Kidd.
Lilliana stumbled out the door, trying to stay calm. It was still nighttime or early morning as the pale moon was still high in the darkened sky.
"Morgan?" she called out into the empty street, earning silence as a response. A feeling of dread bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Had he abandoned her, even if he had promised her his protection, a future of adventure and happiness? Had he lied to her? Lilliana had never felt so betrayed before.
"Morgan?" she tried again, despair in her scratchy voice. He was gone.
Lilliana jumped at the sound of a tongue clicking in disapproval. The blood drained from her face as a figure emerged from the shadows of the alleyway. A pirate.
"Wha' is a pretty young thin' like yourself doing all out by your lonesome?" the pirate slurred, a menacing gleam in his dark eyes.
"That's none of your business," Lilliana spat.
He raised his hands up in mock offense. "Now there's no need to be all touchy. Only curiosity." He began to advance towards Lilliana's spot, stumbling a bit. "Who is this Morgan you're whining abou'? Your boyfrien'?"
"That's none of your business," Lilliana repeated with force evident in her voice. The pirate now stood in front of her.
"Oh wai' a minute," he said, eyes widening. "Morgan Kidd. I know the bloke."
"Well, can you tell me where he is?" she demanded. This pirate was bad news.
"Aboard the Savage Storm," he nodded, pointing a finger out into the ocean. Just beyond the dark horizon was a ship growing smaller and smaller in size.
Lilliana's eyes widened in fear and hurt. A single tear escaped from Lilliana's eye. Morgan had betrayed her trust.
"Sorry girly. Look's like your boyfrien' decided to leave withou' ya." He let out a deep laugh. Lilliana swiped angrily at the single tear, streaming down her paled face. "But don't you worry. I'm here, and I can help you forget all abou' him."
He made a lunge to grab at Lilliana, but she immediately reacted upon her instinct and kicked the man straight up the crouch.
"You're a lil figh'er aren't ya?" He made another attempt to lunge at her, but Lilliana swung her first straight across his face, knocking a tooth out.
"You little bitch," he gasped out.
His eyes darkened and sprinted at her, knocking her to the cobbled, cold ground. She let out a piercing scream. "Get off of me! HELP! HELP!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, swiping furiously, sending bloody scratches upon his face, but the pirate muffled her screams by shoving his dirty hand over her mouth.
"Shut it, will ya?" he spat, punching her straight in the mouth, cutting open her bottom lip. "Boys! Help me out, will ya? This one won't shut up!"
A group of about three or four men emerged out of the shadows, all tall, large, and pirates. One came over to Lilliana, kicking her in her left side. She let out a muffled hiss of agony. "Please," she begged, with the pirate's hand still over her mouth. Another one stomped down on her ribs, earning a loud crack and a tortured scream from Lilliana. Tears ran furiously down her face, stinging the open wounds and scratches on her face and mixing with the neighboring pool of crimson blood on the ground. She cried at the cruel sting of betrayal, a broken promise. She cried for the loss of her dream, the wonders of the world.
They continued to beat her, bone after bone, scream after scream, until Lilliana's brilliant brown eyes weakly fluttered to a close, her long brunette locks soaked in her own blood, coloring them crimson. She was breathing weakly.
"Now lads, that is no way to treat a lady," Lilliana vaguely heard a voice say. Was it Morgan?
"Get out of here boy. Isn't it past your bedtime?" the leader who first attacked her cackled, joined by the rest of her attackers.
"No," the boy grinned, eyes twinkling under his multi-colored hood. "But it is yours."
With those words, Lilliana heard the sound of pained grunts, groans, and cracked bones. She struggled to open her eyes. She didn't want to open them; the pain was too much to bear. It was simply easier to depart from this world than to fight for the will to live. The scuffle had now ceased as the air was still and silent, excluding the faint breaths of a weak Lilliana.
"Who are you?" Lilliana heard the leader gasp out in pain. "Who are you, you Pied Piper?" His eyes travelled to the flute with multiple wooden pipes, bound together by a leather string.
The Piper leaned down to the leader's face, removed his pied hood, and smiled. "I'm Peter. Peter Pan," he grinned before delivering the final blow.
Satisfied with his work, Peter Pan stood up and assessed the damages. The Flood Gate's streets were, safe to say, flooded with a thick stream of crimson, which reflected brightly under the pale light of the moon. However, it was not only crimson which shone through the darkness. Pan's eyes travelled over to another glowing entity shining in the pool of crimson. It was the girl he had saved. Her bruised and bloodied body was surrounded by a violet aura of light. He listened closely to her faint heartbeat grow stronger and louder. His green eyes widened in wonder. The girl refused to submit to death; she was fighting for the will to live. Who was this girl? Enamored by the spectacle, he leaned in closer to her.
"Who are you?" Pan asked, observing the brightening violet aura surrounding her body.
"Andr-drea H-H-Lux," she breathed faintly.
"Well, Andrea, how would you like to leave this place, this world, in all its disgust and cruelty, and come with me?" Pan offered. It was a leap of faith; it wasn't customary of him to bring girls to the place they were going.
"W-w-where?" she breathed.
Pan leaned in closer to her, brushing her crimson-soaked locks away from her ear. He caressed her face, which was still vibrant and youthful despite all the scratches and whispered, "Home."