There was another thud as Lily landed flat on her back...again. It was another week later and Lily's lessons had begun. It was safe to say at this point that she sucked. She and Mal had been sparring all day and she had not landed even one hit on her mother.
Maleficent chuckled as she extended her hand to help her up. "Are you alright?"
"No." Lily sat up, tossing her staff to the side. "I'm never gonna get this, Mom."
Maleficent slammed the butt of her staff into her chest, pressing her against the ground. "Don't ever give up, my Lilith. Patience is one of our greatest strengths. A dragon will hunt every day and miss their prey 90% of the time. Once you do that, either you keep trying or you starve. You are not going to learn all of this in a week. I don't expect you to be perfect, my love. I expect you to keep trying."
Lily swallowed and slowly nodded. Patience was certainly something that her mother possessed. She accepted the outstretched hand and got back to her feet. "Maybe the staff isn't for me."
"Then we shall find what is and soon, it won't matter because every weapon will be for you. You will learn to adapt." Maleficent waved her hand, conjuring a long steel table on the front lawn of the mansion. "Pick a weapon." As if on cue, the table was covered in a black cloud, and when it cleared it was covered in every weapon of every type.
Lily picked up her staff. She wouldn't get rid of it of course, her mother had carved it just for her. She tenderly wrapped it up and laid it on the front porch before going back to the table. She didn't even bother to turn around when a squad car pulled up.
"All of these weapons. Can't be good." Emma said, walking up to the dragons. Both of them ignored her.
Lily picked up a pair of sais and twirled them. "Nope. What do you suggest, Mom?" Nothing overly long. Her staff was actually a quarterstaff that Mal had had to shorten because with the full length one she knocked herself out with the back end of it. Maleficent bent over the table, picking up a shortsword. She handed it to Lily before looking for something else. "What do you want, Emma?"
"Just to see how you were settling in mostly." Emma shrugged.
Lily rolled her eyes. She looked up when she heard a caw and a raven flew down from the roof. She raised her eyebrows, watching the bird fly over to the table and hop towards her.
"Why don't you two spar?" She hadn't heard Regina and Henry arrive and she inwardly rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. Savior versus the Anti-Savior." Emma patted her on the back and smirked, picking up a longsword.
Lily took a deep breath and looked up at her mother. "If you don't want to, dear, we can find somewhere else to practice." Mal said, obviously not pleased with the new arrivals either. The raven cawed, attracting her attention, now perched on a war axe. Mal growled at it, but it didn't move. Lily picked up the axe and it flew off again. Regina scowled at it and even fired a fireball, but the bird would not leave.
"It must be a spy for the Evil Queen." Henry said.
"Or the Evil Queen herself." Emma launched the sword and it dodged, fluttering down to land on Lily's shoulder.
You can defeat her, my dear. Show your strength. Tire her out. Wear her down. Dragons have excellent stamina and patience.
Lily flicked the bird off and picked up her weapons. "Let's do it, Emma." She took her place as Emma picked up a different sword, this one long and light with a long cross guard. Mal gave the signal for them to begin and Emma went on the attack. Lily ducked and dodged her blade, sometimes parrying it, but never attacking. Emma's blows were strong, but she was tiring quickly. And then just like that, she moved back, falling into a defensive stance, catching her breath. That's when Lily attacked, but it was a mistake as Emma kicked her hard in the chest. She fell back, receiving a hard blow with the flat of the blonde's sword. She rolled back, chased by a singing sword. She just couldn't seem to get the upper hand.
"Come on, Mom!" Henry cheered. Both Regina and Mal were silent. Regina was smiling, but Mal simply watched intensely.
"Getting tired?" Emma asked.
Lily growled. Show your strength. When the blonde slammed her sword down, she used the axe, hooking it on the cross guard and yanking her off her feet. Emma rolled but Lily was waiting. She hooked with the axe again and brought down her sword as hard she could, shattering Emma's sword.
"No, I wasn't getting tired." Lily smirked. She looked up at Mal and was immediately engulfed in a proud hug.
"You were fantastic, my love." Mal put her down and kissed the top of her head.
Lily grinned proudly and hugged her again. "Come on, Mom. You and me." She picked up her weapons again and hopped up and down as her mother conjured her staff. Needless to say, using the same tactic didn't work. Only a few seconds later, there was a thud as she landed on her back...again.
"Confidence is good." Maleficent smirked. "Not overconfidence." she held out her hand and Lily took it, popping right back to her feet, ready for another round.
Regina smiled, watching them spar. A caw made her look up at the raven perched on her roof, watching as well. Her smile faded at once.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It had been a good day. Maleficent smiled to herself as she made dinner for herself and her daughter. Regina was nearby, watching silently. Lily was upstairs soaking in the tub, nursing her wounds.
"What happened to staying with me?" Regina asked softly.
"I hardly noticed a difference." Mal retorted. She was always gone anyway, either with the Charmings or Henry. She didn't mind the boy, he was a good child. Regina had raised him well, but with his presence came Emma and the Charmings and Maleficent was far from ready to sit down and have a happy family dinner with them. It was why she'd bought this nice cottage near the edge of the main town. It gave her and her daughter both privacy and convenience should they ever need to go into town.
"Mal, talk to me."
"You're never there for Lily." Maleficent said. She turned to place the plates of rosemary chicken and grilled steak on the table, followed by a nice salad that she doubted they would actually eat and some sides of mashed potatoes, corn and french fries. It seemed strange but Maleficent really loved fries. One of the great things about this world.
"What are you talking about?" Regina asked.
The blonde wiped her hands on her jeans and went to a drawer to pull out an envelope. Lily was 30 now and she was 30 birthdays too late, but she wanted to get something for her daughter whether it was her birthday or not. She looked the envelope over and sliced it open, revealing the card inside. She magically wrapped the card itself and placed it next to Lily's plate.
"Maleficent." Regina snapped.
"What?"
"I want you to elaborate, that's what."
"You are always with Henry and Emma and the Charmings. I know you've forgiven them and they're your friends, but we haven't." Regina started to speak but Mal raised her finger. "I'm not asking you to choose or to give up your time with your family, but try and make time for Lily."
"I am. I will." Regina promised.
Mal nodded. "Now, would you like to stay for dinner or are you going to join the idiots at Granny's?"
"I'll stay here. I just...have to tell them-"
"Go, Regina. Just go." The blonde sighed.
Lily suddenly came barrelling downstairs, bringing with her a wave of rose scented air. She was wearing a black tanktop and Jean shorts and her hair was still slightly wet and pulled back into a ponytail. She grinned when she saw her mother. "You're wearing the jeans!"
Mal blushed and smiled. "You wouldn't take no for an answer."
Lily laughed as she sat down. "Because you look great in them." She looked at the spread of food and rubbed her hands together.
"Before you begin…" Mal smirked. She glanced at Regina, who sighed and teleported away. The blonde motioned to the card next to her plate. "I have a gift for you. I know you told me that you didn't grow up with much and I wanted to rectify that. You are my daughter and you are a dragon and we are almost always rich. I am not even exaggerating. This is a very late birthday present, if you will."
Lily unwrapped the card. It was a debit card. On it was the worth of 1/20 of Mal's personal hoard. "1/20th?"
"Yes, I had Regina help me with the worth. It is the equivalent of $100 million. Is that enough for 30 missed birthdays?" Mal asked, hoping that this was a good gift. She wasn't really sure what was considered expensive in this world. "It's in an account under your name." She added when Lily failed to react. "And we can go shopping in the other land. Or rather you can. You can buy any and everything you want and we'll decorate your room. You can get a car, buy your own house if you want. Anything you want. It'll be the beginning of your own hoard." she said hopefully. Lily was just staring at the little piece of plastic. "Damn it, Lily, say something!" When her daughter looked up, tears were in her eyes. "I-I didn't mean to yell-"
"No, no, um...this is the most amazing thing anyone has ever given me and I…" She swallowed hard, quickly wiping her eyes. "I can't accept this."
"It's okay. I have 19/20ths left." Maleficent beamed. She pulled her child in for a hug and Lily just burst into tears. "It's okay, dear. What is it? I don't understand."
"I'm happy." Lily sniffled. She took a moment to compose herself and Mal sat in the chair next to her. "You give me $100 million and can't understand why i'm crying?"
"It's not enough? I would've given more but Regina advised me not to put everything in one account."
Lily looked down at the card, and then up at her mom. "I don't need this. I have you."
"You do. You are a dragon and…" she waved her hand for Lily to finish.
"Your daughter." Lily smiled.
"That's right and don't forget it. Now, let's eat before the food gets cold." She started to fix her plate and Lily pushed the card to the side as she followed suit. They had a pleasant dinner and then spent the entire next day online shopping for some of everything. Lily ended up spending almost half of her newfound wealth on things she thought her mother would love. She had it delivered somewhere in Maine and prepared to drive out and retrieve it. Maleficent unfortunately, could not accompany her. It was Regina who offered to go in her stead.
"You know, you didn't have to come if you didn't want to." Lily said, pressing the gas pedal of the truck she was renting to the floor.
"I wanted to. It's about time we talked, don't you think?" Regina asked. "Actually get to know each other."
"Sure, I guess." Lily shrugged.
"How's your training going?"
"Great. Mom said I'm an excellent flyer. Still working on the fighting thing though." Lily grinned.
"What exactly did you buy?" Regina asked.
"A whole ton of stuff. By the way I'm gonna need you to drive the truck back while I pick up my new car. I bought a Ferrari. Mom picked it out. Can she even drive?"
"Yes but I would advise against it considering it was Cruella who taught her." Regina replied. Lily only laughed.
Their departure left Maleficent home alone and a certain someone was wasting no time in taking advantage of this most wonderful opportunity. But unfortunately Mal was having none of it.
The Evil Queen screamed when Mal launched across the living room and she crashed into the sofa knocking it over. The dragon was on top of her in a second, her hand closing around her throat, lifting her off the ground and slamming her into the wall. "Wait, please."
"Why?" Mal growled, eyes glowing. A fireball glowed in her other hand.
"I know your magic can't hurt me."
Mal scowled and dropped her, launching the fireball at the fireplace instead. She conjured a glass of wine and sat down in her recliner. "What do you want?"
"Another chance." The Queen croaked, rubbing her throat. She bowed her head submissively. "I...beg of you."
It was something Maleficent did not believe she would live to see. "Why this change?"
"Because I cannot be who and what I was without her. Believe me, I'm not happy about it." She stood up and dusted herself off. "I want to take the entire town hostage, destroy whoever hurt Lily and take the both of you for myself. But I can't. So I am reduced to asking to have you...for once." Once upon a time, the Queen need not ask anything of Maleficent. It was already hers. Except the curse. That was the one and only thing Mal had said no to, and it was the one thing that destroyed them. "What can I do to earn your affection again?"
"You can start by staying the hell away from my family." The dragon commanded. "I want you gone."
"No." The Evil Queen raised her chin defiantly. "Because I know that you care for me, more than you do her. When the need comes, my dear Maleficent, who do you think she will choose? Her son she raised and her so-called family. Or the daughter she never she knew she had and the dragon she let be murdered."
Maleficent glared at her before closing her eyes, trying to block out any sight of her. The memories of them together were too painful and the wound of her betrayal too raw. She tried to focus on Regina. The woman who now ruled Storybrooke, the woman who turned her back on her soulmate for the dragon. She loved Regina. She truly did, and she believed Regina loved her. A soft hand caressing her cheek made her snap open her eyes.
"She does not love you. She only wants you because I can give you better."
"And how can you do that?"
The Evil Queen looked into her eyes. She licked her lips. It took only a single glance. A single glance down at those soft, plump lips and Maleficent was lost. The Queen was in her arms before she knew it. The kiss made fire stir in the dragon's belly. Her eyes glowed and her beast begged to come out and play with their longtime companion. She tried ever so hard to fight back, but the Queen's tongue, dancing with her own...it was too much. She had never been able to resist Regina. But...this wasn't Regina. Mal shoved the Queen away with a growl and made her way into the bedroom. She locked the door and placed a barrier around it. "Get out!" She screamed. "Get out!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The youngest dragon in Storybrooke was in a very good mood today. She'd had a good talk with her brunette mother, was able to give her blonde mother a bunch of gifts and today she would be flying with her. Everything was perfect for once. Except, she had someone to thank. The Evil Queen was sitting in her study reading a book when Lily walked in. She was momentarily surprised at the impressive dark blue dress the Evil Queen was wearing. It sparkled with diamonds and as all her dresses seemed to do, especially highlighted what Lily was starting to call the Evil Cleavage. Regina and Mal liked to show theirs off every now and then too.
"Thank you for knocking, dear." The Queen called sarcastically.
"You are most welcome, your majesty." She replied with a smirk, placing the new phone on the couch next to the queen. She looked up in confusion. "I know you've been keeping your distance these last few days and trekking all the way out here is not my favorite thing in the world. However, I wanted to thank you for your instruction when I was sparring with Emma. Now, you can call me, anytime you like. Here, I'll show you how to use it." The Queen listened intently while pretending to be uninterested as she explained the basics of working the cell phone. She'd given one to Mal as well but she would probably kill Lily if she gave the Evil Queen her phone number.
"So...I wondering if I could talk to the mirror again."
The Queen nodded. "You are welcome whenever you should feel like it. I will stay here and play with this contraption."
Lily smirked at her puzzled look and made her way down into the inner sanctum. "Magic mirror, on the wall. Does Regina truly love my mom?"
Love changes over time. People change over time. Only the truest love endures. Only the greatest love triumphs.
"You know, I was hoping for a yes or no."
Yes
"Both of them?" She asked, having seen the doey eyes between all three women. Her mothers were trying to keep their problems a secret from her but she knew about them anyway. It wasn't hard to figure out.
Regina loves Maleficent. The mirror reiterated.
"Will they hurt my mom?" There was no answer. "Will Regina hurt my mom?"
Pain is only temporary.
Lily rolled her eyes at the stupid things cryptic bullshit. "What use are you if you won't give me a straight answer?" There was no answer. "Big surprise." She stomped her way back upstairs. "Your mirror's an ass."
The Queen chuckled. "The mirror is but a mere reflection. If you are not ready or do not need to know the answer, then it will only give you what you must...decode, if you will."
"Thank you for the heads up. I have to go, but I'll talk to you later?"
"Lilith." The Queen quickly stood up and walked to her daughter. "Why are you so comfortable around me? Any other person would be plotting my death or quaking with fear. Quite frankly, it worries me."
Lily shrugged. "It's like you said. If you wanted to kill me, then I would be dead. And killing you doesn't really benefit me anyway. I only care about my mom and I'm sure she could kill you if necessary. I don't give a shit about the heroes so if you want to snap some necks I'm totally fine with that. And...yeah, that's about it. Later." She left the perplexed queen and made her way back to the cottage. Her mother was waiting for her.
"Where have you been?"
"Just seeing someone. Anyways, how far are we flying today?" She started doing stretches and her mother smirked.
"Actually we're going hunting, and you are going to get your first taste of meat."
Lily wrinkled her nose. "I have to eat raw meat?"
"You will enjoy it." Maleficent chuckled with assurance. "I'm thinking deer. They should be slow enough for you. I prefer rabbit myself."
"Why don't we catch one? Or a few?" She quickly amended after remembering how big their dragon forms were.
"No dragon has ever caught a rabbit flying."
"Why?"
"Well, for one, my dear, they live on the ground." Mal smirked teasingly. "They are especially quick and we can't fly low. Come, we have some ground to cover before we reach the herds. Thank goodness Regina made Storybrooke's surrounding forests large enough to support us." She helped Lily up. "Let's fly, my love."
/
Regina and the Charmings were walking along the trail when the dragons passed by overhead. A smile touched her lips at seeing her daughter fly side by side with lover.
"Things are going well, huh?" Snow asked.
"As well as can be said. She's growing stronger every day." Regina said with a content sigh. "She is very determined. Just like her mother."
"You do realize that once she reaches her full potential, she is going to come straight for us." David pointed out. "Have you talked to them?"
"Should we talk to them?" Snow asked, worriedly.
The mayor rolled her eyes. "I think you should let this go for now. They're content. I will talk to them when I need to but they seem perfectly fine-" The earth suddenly shook and a great of cloud of dirt rose up in the distance. "Oh no. Lily!" She teleported across the forest as fast as she could, heart beating wildly. Surely Maleficent didn't fall. She hated to think what would happen if either one of her dragons were hurt. She came to the long trench that had churned up the forest, breaking down trees and cracking rocks. It was like an airplane had crashed/ Lily was laying at the end of it, covered in trees and dirt. Mal was tossing off the great logs left and right, roaring frantically. Regina took off running towards them, noticing a flock of ravens flying down as well. They morphed into none other than the Evil Queen, who started pulling away the dirt and trees with magic. Lily groaned as Mal forced her back into human and quickly followed suit.
"Lily, are you okay?" Regina glared at the Queen before turning back to her daughter, who held up the four rabbits firmly clasped in her fists.
"Never been done, huh?" She grinned...before passing out.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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