On the edge of the Moors, it was time to say goodbye. The human soldiers waited at the base of a border stone along with Diaval, Blathazar, and the other Moor guards. Samuel was telling everyone the plan for getting back to the castle. Maleficent and Aurora walked away from the group to say their goodbyes in private.
"I don't know what to say. There are so many things I wanted to tell you but now…" Aurora trailed off, her eyes filling with tears. "You've been with me my whole life. How am I going to do this without you?"
Maleficent reached up and gently brushed the tears off Aurora's cheeks, tears threatening to spill down her own face. "It's time to grow your own wings now Beastie." She held Aurora's face and stared at her, as though desperately trying to memorize every detail.
"I don't know when I'll be able to come back."
"I know."
Aurora launched herself into Maleficent's arms and buried her face into the fairy's shoulder. Maleficent held her tightly, wrapping her wings around them both. She rested her cheek on top of Aurora's head and spoke softly into the blonde curls. "I'll miss you every day you're gone. If you need me, send word through Diaval." Aurora nodded, not looking up. She had no intention of summoning Maleficent to the castle if it could be at all helped. She didn't want to put her through the pain. Aurora simply squeezed her arms more tightly around Maleficent's waist. They would have stood there indefinitely had Diaval not cleared his throat loudly. Maleficent shot him a pointed glare, but when she saw the look of understanding on his face, she had to look away.
"It's time Aurora." he said gently. Aurora, still cocooned in Maleficent's wings, took several deep steadying breaths and slowly unwrapped herself from around the fairy's torso. Samuel approached until he stood next to Diaval while the rest of the men shuffled awkwardly in the background. Aurora took one last desperate look at the green shimmering eyes before turning to face Diaval.
"I suppose I should give you a hug too, Diaval."
Diaval smiled and replied, "I suppose you should." before wrapping Aurora in a big hug of his own. Samuel frowned in confusion.
"I thought Diaval was joining us on the journey home. Did I misunderstand this?"
Maleficent stepped forward and spoke in a voice, raspy with emotion. "He is going with you. He will be with Aurora at all times." She gracefully waved a hand and Diaval turned from man to raven in a puff of golden magic. Samuel and his men gaped in surprise while Diaval settled comfortably on Aurora's shoulder. She reached up and stroked the feathers on his head.
Samuel, still trying to recover from his shock, started to lead Aurora back to her group of escorts when Maleficent spoke again. "Keep her safe."
He nodded at her. "I will. That's a promise."
Maleficent continued, "I am sorry about your brother. I…" she struggled to find words.
Samuel interrupted her. "I don't blame you. As far as I'm concerned, the king was the monster. Not you." He gave Maleficent a tight smile, bowed his head briefly, and offered an arm to Aurora. As they walked away, she looked back to the fairy and called out "Goodbye Maleficent." Maleficent stood and watched as the group moved out, away from the edge of the Moors and back toward the castle. She watched until they were long out of sight.
"Goodbye Beastie." Maleficent whispered before launching herself into the air. She returned to her tree in the Moors, completely alone for the first time in more than sixteen years.