Note: It is finally here! Maleficent's story. It was VERY hard because OUAT fucked up the story of the sleeping beauty, and after Maleficent 2014 movie - Disney's rewrite - it was super difficult to make this Maleficent make sense with all canon versions of her. I think I did an alright job, given the amount of fuckery. eh. Enough rambling. BIG meta in this chapter, fantasy on abundance. WEIRD Dragon shit.

Broken Souls

After seeing Lily to wish her a good night, Maleficent took a hot bath in her luxurious tub, adding some sea salts to soothe her sore body. Being a dragon nowadays wasn't like before; her aching muscles reminded her her youth had come to pass a couple centuries ago. And she'd lived the last three decades in the form of a dragon, spent them trapped underground with no room for her to fly or even properly stretch her wings. She was rusty, older, and she'd been demanding too much from her body in a small period of time, it was taking its toll on her. She couldn't keep up the same rhythm.

Maleficent kept teaching Lily all there was to learn about their heritage and nature: flying, fire spitting, shape shifting— all of what being dragons meant for them. And then she'd also taken Regina for a flight. It was more than she could handle magic-wise nowadays and Maleficent's spark wasn't what it was once, before conceiving her daughter. But it was better for Regina to believe it was because she'd been brought back from the ashes.

A human sorceress couldn't transform into a dragon on her own; it took a true dragon to share its spark with her in order for the spell to work. But this was very taxing on the creature, not even to mention this was forbidden in the fairytale world. It was found a crime against humanity, the worst evil a witch could unleash, and an immoral act against God for a human to become involved in any way with one of these hellish creatures that could take on the shape of man to lead innocent souls to their deathbed.

Dragons were vile, murderous, twisted creatures that destroyed all life and innocence in their wake, and the only way to appeal to their mercy was by offering a fair maiden to quench their lust and thirst for blood. And just as horrid as humans found dragons to be, dragons deemed humans equally unworthy of walking the earth with the rest of the creatures of nature, both magical and not.

Humans were parasites that consumed and destroyed all land they touched, killed any creature that looked slightly different from them— they even killed each other for their color of skin or their faith! So why would any creature of nature want to share the world with these despicable, hairless monsters, or much less a dragon consider to share such a special gift as their spark with one of them? It was aberrant, but it still happened. And magic always came with a price.

There were very few dragons left in their old world as humans became better slayers and it was now them who terrorized the winged creatures. Many true dragons perished, others resorted to living amongst humans instead, giving up their magical origins to survive in a world no longer theirs to govern.

There was a saying amongst them: "Live a human or die a dragon," but being anything less than a dragon was humiliating, so only a few - older - maintained their true form. Thousands were slaughtered to be used in potions for their healing and longevity properties, some others for a sport, and there were those who like Maleficent were hunted down because they caused horror first. Just a dozen or so specimens lived in harmony in a haven known as "the fair folk:" fairies, gnomes, unicorns and other magical sprites that had come together to insure survival in secluded moorland protected by ancient light magic.

Maleficent was one of them, part of this perishing species, but she didn't actively seek a partner to breed so their race could survive. It wasn't she had no interest in motherhood; it was her lack of interest in males, and females were very scarce among them because usually they chose to live the human way, often as healers or shamans to afford themselves some respect and security in small villages.

Besides, she wasn't completely alone. She'd found one creature she felt strongly for, but the woman she desired was human, a princess, and so she kept it a secret, as such union would certainly endanger the object of her affection. She couldn't care less about herself; it was her rose— Princess Briar Rose —whom she couldn't fathom putting in harm's way.

Dragons were magic-born, and while same-sex relations between them were something common, only some special unions could bare fruit. For two female dragons it meant to share their magical spark in a ceremony that could only be done once in their lifetime, as it would take half the life source from each partner to create a new spark for their child, hopefully. It was a steep price to pay for something that wasn't even warranted to work.

It was a myth if a dragon and magic-bearing human's relationship could result in a child, as any marriages between ordinary humans and dragons who'd given up their true identities to live amongst them, had never resulted in offspring. If they were to be discovered both lovers would be executed, that was why no dragon would take the risk of courting a witch or a sorcerer. They did fall in love and wish to protect their partner. Contrary to human's beliefs, Dragons could feel and deeply.

Still, Maleficent yearned to take this risk, break all rules and share her life with someone who meant something to her, not just survive, nor mate for the purpose of breeding. She'd found her Rose; a woman whose beauty was so captivating even the fiercest of dragons could be tamed by the grace of her mere presence. And tame she had become for Briar, but her love for the princess was a button that could never bloom.

Accidentally, the princess had come across the fae moorland, and with a heart so full of innocence, she was granted passage by the protection and cloaking spells that would have ceased any human, troll, or giant that tried to enter. Purity of heart was the key to entering their haven.

Briar Rose was more than just physical beauty or her innate innocence. She was kind, graceful, and when she sang, her voice made you gravitate to her, like the siren's lure to sailors in the sea, but not to a certain death— although for Maleficent it would feel like that later; make her drown in the depths of her feelings for her. Briar's mellow voice gave you peace and warmth, and Maleficent let herself be drawn to that fair maiden, forging a deep friendship with her, while inevitably growing a fascination for humans she'd never possessed before her. Until Princess Briar, her delicate rose appeared.

With Briar Rose Maleficent saw the brighter side of humans, and because this good-natured young woman was so open, she mistook her gentleness and coyness for requited affection and awakening desire. It was her mistake, but Maleficent couldn't cope with the deception, the rage, the hurt and the betrayal she felt the moment she saw her Rose dancing with a young man in the woods, where Princess and Dragon would secretly meet before coming together to the moors to hideaway from the royal guard.

It was too much. She was feeling too much and all at once.

Maleficent wanted to interrupt the romantic moment, but she found her legs too weak to even walk up to the couple; hands too shaky to even grasp firmly on her staff; tears pouring from blue eyes; heart breaking in a million pieces. No one could see her like this—she wouldn't allow it. She was a Dragon! A creature this powerful couldn't be brought down to her knees by a mere couple of humans sharing a stupid dance.

But dancing meant so much to her.

She thought she would be the one sharing this dance with the Princess. Not him. NEVER him with her Rose! Stephan couldn't be worthy of this delicate flower— no onewas, and Maleficent would prove it, designing a spell that could only be broken by a kiss of True Love.

Her magic was light of origin, in harmony with nature, but it turned dark of intent- her intention to keep them apart. It was a test of True Love, but it turned out a curse.

Maleficent was sure it would be her kiss what would wake the princess, but time would teach her a lesson. And the first was about to come.

Maleficent flee from site, Princess Briar only noticed her after the puff of air and leaves that suddenly circled around them after the violent flap of wings. She looked up to the sky, but the forest was so lush she could barely distinguish from between the leaves and branches a dark shape in the haze: her dragon flying.

"Mal?"

Briar Rose separated from the prince and tried to see where the dragon was headed, but it was too far away already. Most likely headed back home, into the moorland.

"What was that, my lady?" Stephan asked her.

"Nothing. I… thought I saw a friend."

When Prince Stephan returned to his realm to let his father know they would be wedded in summer, Maleficent prepared to enact the curse, knowing it would take the lad weeks to come back, the time she was sure would be enough to prove Briar's parents wrong, and elope with her beloved princess— live their happily ever after together.

Briar Rose was in the moorland, in their secret hideaway, wondering why her dragon friend hadn't appeared to her in days. She was sure Maleficent was the one who'd seen her in the woods with the prince, but still wanted to make sure, and also to know why it made her so upset.

She was dipping her feet in the river that delimited the fae land from the human when she heard the light growl of a dragon and flapping wings near her.

"Maleficent!" Briar exclaimed gleefully as she got up on her feet. She had been upset, but just one look at her friend was enough to cheer her up instantly.

Maleficent was on the other side of the land, unable to crossover to the moorland anymore. She turned into human as she landed on her feet, and waited for her maiden to come running to her instead.

"Have you missed me?" Maleficent asked calmly, almost coldly, but Briar was too happy to notice this or how Maleficent was avoiding to go near the river with the enchanted water.

Even though she was guarded and tried to act aloof, Maleficent was hopeful to hear the affirmative that was sure to follow. She needed to hear it regardless. Maybe she could still refrain from casting this curse, if Briar said the right words.

"Of course I have! It's beenweeks since I've last seen you, and there's so much I wish to share with you!" She said excitedly as she walked to the sorceress' side.

"Do you?" Maleficent asked coyly this time, her heart drumming inside her. She was getting very hopeful and too quickly— Briar had that effect on her.

"M-hm!" Rose nodded. "You're my only friend outside the castle. My only true friend. How could I not?"

Maleficent's heart sank. It wasn't the word she was hoping to hear.

The princess jumped to hug Maleficent, wrapped her arms around her slender torso, but noticed the tall woman wasn't returning her embrace with the same warmth- or any -as before.

"Is there something wrong, Mallie?" Violet-blue eyes looked deep into cold blue with concern.

"Not at all. You said you had much to share, my sweet… friend. I'd like to hear everything," responded Maleficent, trying to mask the pain she felt every time her beloved princess called her a friend.

"Oh! Right! Come, let's sit by the rowan tree."

Rose dragged Maleficent with her by the hand, lacing their fingers. Maleficent looked at their hands, heart beating fast, aching deeply, but there was still that silver lining: her torturous, stupid hope.

Rose told her about her meeting with Prince Stephan. How it had been nothing like her worst fears. They had been promised to each other from birth, and even if the princess was submissive in nature, she loathed having choices be made for her. But this meeting had shown her it wasn't so bad. She could do it.

Stephan had been kind, and she felt she could go on with this wedding. It was her duty as princess, anyway, but she'd actually grown fond of her parents' choice of partner during these days they got to know each other. Stephan had taken the time to come meet her first because he didn't feel right with the arrangement either. They were alike in many ways, and Stephan having come all the way just to ask Briar if she was sure about it or not, so they could put an end to the tradition of arranged marriages, showed Princess Briar that he was the kind of man she could share her life with, and the kind of man that would make a good King for her realm in the future.

Arranged marriage? Maleficent didn't understand why humans did this.

Dragons were free to choose partners, and being monogamous wasn't even a norm. There weren't really any restrictions to whom they could share themselves with. And if you ignored the enmity between the human race and the dragon race, there was only the inability to conceive together, but that was because the magic in their blood overpowered a human's and thus no product could result from that bond. So, to Mal it was absurd that humans had all these rules and structures for relationships and for enjoying themselves at all. It was all about their duty to making children, protecting their wealth, or insuring their name, but not much about how they truly felt.

Rose's parents had chosen whom their daughter must spend the rest of her life with, mate with, years before she was even born. How ludicrous was that! Should Briar Rose feel the same way Maleficent did, her being a dragon could remain a secret. She was willing to give up her magic - her nature – to live an ordinary human life with her. Maleficent would do anything, really- even use her magic to appear a man, should her Rose request it for any reason. She cared not for body parts, labels, or high morals and religious institutions. There was no excuse why they couldn't be together. Unless, of course, Rose didn't love her.

But how could she know, given her upbringing? Maleficent would show her the truth.

Maleficent questioned Briar and Briar questioned herself, but she reallyliked the prince—she wasn't trying to convince herself or Mallie—and it made Rose lose her temper for the first time with her dragon friend. She was angry and confronted Maleficent at last, demanding from her to be clear about the intention behind criticizing and opposing her engagement and her judge of character.

"Because I love you!" Maleficent finally broke down. "Can't you see?"

Rose stared in awe. She smiled first, but then her smile curled downwards.

While knowing this made her feel something beautiful inside, she also realized she may not be able to return it, and it weighed heavily in her heart. She deeply loved Maleficent, just not the way she desired. She didn't really know, the more she thought about it. It was all so confusing, it made her head spin.

"I've known you for years, and yet you choose this boy you met just a couple weeks ago?" Maleficent grumbled. "He doesn't know you like I do! He only likes you for your beauty, but I— I love you for whoyou are, not because of those magical gifts some stupid fairies bestowed on you on your christening!" Her voice sounded like thunders— or probably they made it thunder, as Rose felt the first droplets of rain fall upon her.

A storm was coming.

Briar Rose was shocked. Hurt. Maleficent was saying something very true. Her fairy godmothers had bestowed on her the gifts of: beauty, music, and joy— which felt like a curse. It was why she didn't feel she had any true friends in the world, because any person she came to meet would be influenced by the magic cast upon her. No matter how good or "light" this magic had been in intention, it was unnatural nonetheless. Her whole character wasn't even her own, Briar Rose was a lie and she was broken hearted. She would never find True Love because of this.

But fairy magic didn't affect Maleficent because she was a magical creature of the nature as well, like the fairies that enchanted her, and Rose had felt so happy to become friends with her, to find someone who could look at her and see her as an ordinary person, not their Princess, nor just an object of admiration; she could see her for her. Mallie felt like the only person in the world who understood her and loved her genuinely— selflessly. Maybe too much.

Maleficent wanted Briar Rose beyond logic, to the point of letting her need for her get the best of her, wanting her selfishly. Greedily. Dragons weren't exactly sharing once they found something to treasure, and Briar Rose was a treasure for Maleficent; something too precious she needed to fiercely protect from the world, even if it meant isolating her to shield her from any harm.

Rose knew she loved Maleficent, she could feel it even when she couldn't recognize her in her anger. But she wasn't sure her love carried romantic desires. Did it? She'd never considered it an option to love another woman, but it was an option, and now that she thought of this idea with her dragon friend, she was deeply confused. Briar apologized for not knowing how to answer to her love confession this moment— that was all she could do.

Maleficent could see through her, the confusion in her eyes. Her princess felt something, too. This was new to her, unknown, but Maleficent was impatient. She needed her to realize her feelings before it was too late, before she woke up one day in her husband's bed, thinking what a mistake she'd made.

"Admit it! You want me as much as I want you," Maleficent pressed, clawing at her arms and shaking her.

"I… I don't know," Briar Rose said with a trembling voice, tears starting to pool her eyes as Maleficent kept a firm, unforgiving grip on her.

"Yes you do. You know. Just make up your mind!"

"Stop! I don't— I can't! Not like this." Briar Rose pushed her away with all her strength.

Maleficent's back slammed against the tree.

"Don't make me choose," the maiden said tiredly to her, between strangled sobs.

The dragon sorceress was shocked, even more broken hearted, but the fire in her blood started to boil with the anger. It was inevitable. Dragons had no qualms in expressing their emotions, specially those negative, as they weren't like humans who always wore masks to please everyone else but those who mattered: themselves.

"I'm sorry." Rose was surprised with the violence she had hidden inside herself, looked at her trembling hands, touched her engagement ring, and looked at Maleficent again. "I really am. I love you… Just… not the way you want me to," she averted her eyes from the piercing blue gaze. "True Love doesn't hurt."

Rejection for dragons was just as hurtful as it was for humans, but they also moved on. The problem with Maleficent was she didn't believe the princesses' words. She was sure Briar Rose was lying, not only to her but to herself, too, because it was easier to believe that than to risk taking the chance of being her true self with Maleficent; of being in love with another woman; of being the Princess in love with the Dragon.

"It hurts because you're lying to yourself."

In a blink of an eye, Maleficent was suddenly just a breath apart from her. She had Briar in her arm, holding her steady by the waist with a hand, as the other cupped her chin to lift it gently, while bringing her thick, nude lips so close to touch red rose ones.

Briar felt her heart pound inside her chest much quicker as she thought she was about to be kissed by the older woman, but her kiss never came. She almost forgot to breathe, until she had to take a deep intake of air.

Maleficent removed her hand from Briar's chin to caress golden locks, and tucked them behind the princess' ear gently, eliciting a sigh from the future Queen.

"Since you're so sure of yours and his feelings, this curse I now bestow on you will easily be broken by the kiss of True Love," Maleficent whispered over Briar's lips, so close she could almost savor them. "If you share it with him, this curse won't be but a mere nap in daytime. So rest now, my sleeping beauty, until we meet again."

"If you truly love me, please don't do this," the maiden pleaded.

"It is because I love you that I must do this, my sweet blossom," Maleficent said sweetly.

"Mallie, please—"

Maleficent didn't let her finish. She pricked Briar's finger with a long needle and took her numb body to the summer palace that was to be Briar's and Stephan's wedding present from her father the King. She left the princess' crown and a note for the King behind them, telling him Briar Rose deserved to choose. That her heart would be the one to choose whose kiss would wake her from her sleep-like death and let the realm hear wedding bells again.

And so, Briar Rose slept for years, trapped in a tower in the now Forbidden Fortress— Maleficent's acclaimed domain, where as a fierce dragon she protected it from the King's army making failed attempts at slaying her to free their princess.

During the first year, Maleficent tried each day to wake her with her kiss, to no avail, bringing more misery than joy to her life with this. She had just wanted to love her, but now Briar's light, the music of her laughter, and her warmth had been replaced by nothingness. Still, Maleficent couldn't let go of her. She didn't want Stephan to win. She was broken and wanted everyone to hurt like she was hurting, and continued fighting for a love that would never exist for her. If she couldn't have Briar Rose, nobody else would.

Maleficent read every book she found in the library to her sleeping beauty, all while her father's army dealt with the big wall of thorns she'd summoned with her powerful magic; an impenetrable shield that healed itself, growing back any of the vines that became damaged by the attacks, each new branch all the more sharp and violent. Nothing could get past it. With the right spells - ancient magic - nature could become the most powerful weapon. Maleficent was a force to be reckoned with, and it soon gained her the title "the Mistress of all Evil".

After a decade, Maleficent stopped trying to wake her princess.

After the pain of her first failed kiss, she'd only been kissing Briar's hand, her forehead, her cheek, but could never bring herself to kiss those soft lips that no longer held the color of the red rose in them, no matter how hard she longed to taste them. She just couldn't bare the sensation of emptiness again; it was like kissing death itself. She wanted to kiss them with Rose awake and fully conscious. But that would never happen.

One night, after fighting against a much bigger army made of the forces of two kingdoms united for their Princess, Maleficent lost her spark in the field. Every knight in battle died that night, and Stephan would've died, too, if he hadn't been a coward and hid from Maleficent when the dragon came roaring his name.

In her fury at not seeing him show his face in the field, the dragon unleashed her fire upon all men— something she'd never done before, and only their ashes remained after the smoke ceased.

Maleficent's spells had only and always been reactive, never offensive. This time, though, the Dragon had come out for blood.

Briar's father gave up after that bloody battle. He'd seen the slaughter from afar, too old to fight, and he and Stephan ran to safety, defeated. The King died a month later from natural causes, but everyone knew it was from the sorrow it caused him to lose his only daughter and future of the realm.

After the big clash, Maleficent was weak, injured, and losing her spark was the worst thing that'd happened to her since losing Briar's heart to that coward. She was sure Stephan was no dream prince. That he'd only asked Rose about her opinion on this marriage, because he didn't have the bravery to confront his father about it and demand he let him choose on his own. He was leaving it to Briar Rose so he could blame her in case she said no; use her as his shield. He was a coward and didn't deserve her. If he did, he would already have saved her and without sacrificing so many soldiers.

Human life was such fleeting thing, perhaps keeping Briar like this was best, Maleficent convinced herself— or tried to. She would live for as long as Maleficent did, or as long as her curse remained unbroken. It could be centuries.

Seasons passed without any fights after the King's death and Stephan's naming as protector of the realm, and Maleficent felt she had nothing left to fight for— no one to fight, and gave into a new addiction that could help her keep her mind off the reality that was her wretched existence and her terrible sin.

She had by now forgotten the melody of Briar's voice, and she'd lost her spark too— her vital magic. She deserved it for what she did to her lovely rose. It was only fair.

Loveless, powerless, and loneliest.

Even with Briar Rose with her, this wasn't at all what she'd dreamed of. She hadn't planned possessing Rose like this. She loved her, but she had turned into a monster because of jealousy, selfishness, and yet she couldn't just put an end to her misery, break the curse with her death and set Briar free. She was too selfish to let her go, or maybe just as coward as Stephan.

After the King passed away, they stopped the rescuing attempts for a year to mourn, then the Queen named Prince Stephan her hand and protector of the realm. He needed a new army and a different approach, so he waited, planning his next big attack. While in his wait, he received word from no other than Maleficent — a black crow delivered her letter.

"Have you so soon given up on your one True Love?

Or was it always the throne?

Asleep, Rose awaits in the garden of thorns.

If you love her, you'll know to come alone."

No one had seen the dragon in months. What they could see, though from afar, was the enchanted burning tree they believed Maleficent's warning that anyone who crossed that line, would suffer the same fate— a cruel reminder of that night of fire, blood, and endless screaming.

The fairies assured Stephan Maleficent was powerless. They hadn't seen the dragon because her spark had left her a mere mortal: she was vulnerable. Now was the time to act.

Maleficent had been sober the day she wrote that letter. She had no hope anymore that Briar Rose would ever wake up with her kiss, no matter how many books she read her or how much love she put into her innocent caress, assuring her she only wanted the best for her— to protect her.

Her sweet maiden would never love her the way she desired, and she had turned the princess into her prisoner as punishment: this wasn't love, she realized in that brief moment of clarity.

It wasn't Rose who was mistaken, it was her. It had always been her.

If she wanted the best for Briar, why had she done this? Why was she still doing it? This obsession had almost turned her completely insane. Her Rose deserved much better, someone who could love her truly. Unlike Maleficent.

Stephan attended to Maleficent's invitation that was more an ultimatum. But he had come with his squire, despite Maleficent's advice to come alone. They found Maleficent waiting for them in her human shape and that gave them hope, even if it still felt dangerous coming to her mighty presence, to the Mistress of all Evil, but their war must end. It had lasted far too long and their realm needed their future Queen to come back home.

"Poor, simple fools! I remember asking you to come alone. Should I turn a Dragon and kill you both?" Maleficent looked at them with disgust. "If you love her at all you will go through this test alone."

"You're powerless, Maleficent, you can't scare us," the prince challenged.

"Am I?" Maleficent said with a threatening, low voice, her glimmering dragon eyes piercing through his. "Are you sure?" She gave a wicked lop-sided smile.

That was all the magic she could conjure, she couldn't truly do anything else without her spark.

Her old spells had remained because her spark had not vanished, but she didn't have the mind to go looking for it or even think it was her life essence the one igniting the tree that looked like endless embers. Her depression and the diluted curse kept her numb for the most part, half-dreaming of a better life and only slightly aware of her surroundings at the same time. But she had resisted her concoction for the last days, only so she could give her princess a chance. There was at least one wrong she could right before parting from this world, however long that might take. She could spend the time living in a half dream.

Stephan exchanged looks with his squire, reconsidered, and dismissed his companion, then came down of his horse.

"Smart boy," Maleficent sneered.

In return, the sorceress pointed with her staff to the maze of thorns.

The Prince took a deep breath as he looked the path he was to enter on his own— a deadly trap for sure.

His body started sweating inside the armor and Maleficent could hear his bones shaking inside the metal case and it quite amused her. She didn't bother to mask it, so she chuckled.

Why should he trust Maleficent of all people?

His mind was telling him not to, but the irrationality in his heart was what ultimately won. He was never a good fighter, he had always yielded in his training, but this was not a time to yield. This was the last chance to save the woman he loved and he had to find the bravery in his heart to walk through that maze of death. Trusting Maleficent was Princess Briar's best chance, so he did.

It took him three days to get to the altar where Maleficent placed Briar Rose to sleep in serenity. In his journey he had to fight the vines that would suddenly attack him, but all his effort and the wounds he gained on the way to his fair maiden were worth it the moment his True love opened those violet-blue eyes after he gently kissed her. With the magic that accompanied their kiss, the garden of thorns turned to dust around them as a beam of colorful light traveled their entire realm. They were finally free to have their fairytale wedding.

But not a happily ever after.

Maleficent wasn't redeemed. She realized as she saw her precious Rose go, she didn't really want her to be happy even if it wasn't with her. She'd had a moment of weakness, induced by mixed feelings and adulterated potions— guilt. The ache remained; it didn't leave with Briar. It was always present, the hatred, the emptiness, that void in the pit of her stomach that never ceased, fueled by her new addiction that kept her half-awake, half-asleep in this forsaken place. But at least it helped keep the dragon at bay.

Her humanity was a punishment for her sins; it was her prison. And as human she wouldn't live as long. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad punishment in the end.

When Regina showed up in her door, years later, she found a tormented soul that mirrored her own, and couldn't accept that someone as powerful as Maleficent, would have given up.

What could she expect if even the Mistress of all Evil had been defeated? No! Regina would reignite her fire, help her recover her spark and have her comeback— her revenge. And she did.

So powerful… so beautiful… and yet so broken. Just like me.

Two broken souls would come to bond over their losses.

Regina helped her remember who she was—a blazing dragon that would stop at nothing until getting what she wanted, and for that Maleficent would always be thankful. Even when the sleeping curse they cast on Briar's daughter, Aurora, would soon be broken, she didn't care. Maleficent discovered it didn't affect her anymore. She'd found something—someone—more endearing than her Briar Rose. And as impossible as it seemed, it gave her hope for a brighter future.

Regina was both dark and light, bitter and sweet, innocent and corrupted all the same— she was perfection made human. Maleficent was falling again. But she didn't want to suffer the same pain, so she learned from her mistakes. Without the drugs, and a new clarity of mind, she could see what choices were best so she wouldn't be torn apart, nor would she cause Regina the same torment she gave Princess Briar Rose.

The Mistress of all Evil was to be buried in the past.