Chapter 1: Time to Move out.
The former Queen of the Moors, the Dark Fae Maleficent has watched the small child Aurora grow into adulthood; into the beautiful and loved queen that she was destined to be. She fell in love with Prince Philip, married him, and had children. She has been a constant in their lives. Many times she visited them. When they were small, she would take her ''Godgrandchildren'' with her on flights high above the clouds, granting them temporary, smaller wings. Aurora grinned the entire time; watching as her children soared with the fae.
But as Aurora aged, Maleficent found the attachment to her family grow distant. She loved Aurora like her own child, but her family viewed her as more of an acquaintance then an actual family member, with little of their time to give her past childhood, even Andrea Aurora's youngest daughter and the only one besides her mother to see her as family, eventually became to occupied to give her the time of day.
More and more years past, the children had lives of their own, families of their own, and had absolutely no time to see a faerie. On her deathbed, Maleficent went to see Aurora. She had aged but her eyes and personality had not changed, she was still happy and loved by all, and her delight in seeing her Fairy Godmother lit her up more than anything else. She sat with her for a while, holding her hand.
Aurora: *turns her bright green eyes to Maleficent* Godmother, Will you watch over my family? At least until they die off?
Her eyes pleaded the woman to take pity. She knew they did not think much of her, why should she think of them?
Maleficent: 'Because i love her to much to say no' *Gives her a small smile* Of course i will. 'Even if they will not welcome my protection'.
Aurora: Thank you *Cough harshly, causing Maleficent to tighten her hold on her hand in worry* I don't have longer to live, could you please take me to see the Fae folk one last time?
Maleficent: Of course, Beastie. *Lifts her small frame and flew out the window, despite the protest of her servants and family members.*
Malefiecent flew high into the sky, Aurora giggled as her flying made her stomach flip. The Dark Fae remembered all the times she asked to fly with her, but she always said she was too heavy for her to fly very high. Well, she wasn't now.
She landed lightly in the middle of the Moors. All the faeries surrounded Aurora like they always had. But, this time Maleficent stayed with her; holding her up so she won't fall. She laughed and conversed with them as if nothing was wrong, and they sat and watched the sun set. And, as the last rays faded into night, Aurora drew her last breath.
After that, she watched over her Beastie's family as she has requested, but decided to watch from a distance, becoming a shadow that followed each and every little ones into adulthood.
1000 years has passed sense, her story came to be known as a fairy tale called "Sleeping Beauty." The facts were off quit a bit, but she never cared what people thought of her, so she let them believe what they wanted.
She watched over Aurora's bloodline as best as she could, protecting them through out history from both Natural and Supernatural threats and watching them live out their lives, for better or for worst. Her promise of guardianship finally came to a sudden end in the spring of 1842, when the last of Aurora's descendants, A well off gentleman in his early 40s named Albert Moors, his Wife Amanda and 3 sons: Marcel, Gabriel and Hugo, were killed in the famous railway disaster in Meudon near Paris. The accident was such that not even Maleficent's magic could have saved them or prevent the accident.
This of course struck Maleficent deep in her heart, with both grief and a level of guilt for not having saved them. But at the same time, this fell her with great relief, now that she is no longer bound by her promise to Aurora, she can turn her full focus on the Moors, who needs her now more than ever.
Over those last 1000 years, as the world "modernize" more and more and the industrial revolution quick off, more and more of the Moors began to wither and die from a combination of aerial pollution, deforestation and the absence of Belief in Faeries. Maleficent has spent all her time sense then to try and keep the Moors alive and as healthy as she could, but all her efforts did was slow down the damage and delay the inevitable.
By the time the year 2000 rolled around, the Moors was now a little less than a third of its size and half of the Fae Folk have died. As for Maleficent, the over use of her magic to maintain the Moors drained her quit a bit, causing her to look at least 15 years older. She's still a beautiful woman and her magic was still strong, but her hair and wings spotted many grey hairs and feather, and she uses her staff more then ever to move around as it became more difficult, even painful to walk.
One early morning of May, her fateful companion Diaval flew over the remaining Moors, searching for his mistress to deliver grave news.
Diaval: *Spots Maleficent near the Pool of Jewels* Crou, crou *Sweeps down to join her, landing just a few feet from her*
Maleficent: *Sees Diaval and waves her golden glowing fingers, changing him into a human* What is it Diaval, i'm busy.
Diaval: *With a solemn, yet sad look* Forgive me for disturbing you like this mistress, but i regret to inform you that Balthazar, has died.
Maleficent: *Doesn't look at him, but takes a deep, sadden sigh* When?
Diaval: Not an hour ago, He took his last breath and collapsed into dust, a strong gust of wind carried his remains. I've been looking for you sense to deliver you the news.
Maleficent: *Grabs her staff put on the side and uses it to get up and face Diaval* And how are the other Faeries taking his passing?
Diaval: Not very well i'm afraid, Balthazar was the last of the Spriggans and the Moors defense, with him gone they feel even less safe then before, which is not improving the health of those who have fallen ill. Mistress, i fear this might be the end for us all.
The two fell into a dead silence afterwards, where neither of them moved from the spot, processing the grief and sorrow they were both feeling right now. Maleficent was silently crying a dear, lost friend, until her eyes caught a glow in the pool she's been sitting near of for hours, trying to use its magic to find a solution to all the Moors problems.
Maleficent: *Look of sorrow shift to one of hard determination* Not yet *Turns to Diaval* Diaval, i want you to fly around the Moors and tell all the Faeries to assemble at the foot of the great tree where the throne of roots is, and quickly.
Diaval: But Mistress, many of them are to si-
Maleficent: I said quickly Diaval, the faith of the Moors depends on it *Forcefully shifts him back into a raven, and reluctantly took to the air to execute his mistress orders. Meanwhile, Maleficent turned back to the pool's reflection, to see a chain of mountains and a large forest showing in its reflection* I do hope this works.
A few hours later, At the Throne of Roots
All of the remaining Faeries managed to come to the Throne, even the Sick were there, tho they had to be helped by the healthy ones.
Knotgrass: *Helps Flittle carry a sick Thistlewit by the arms to a small grass patch for her to lie on* Here you go Thistle, just lie down and rest *Transforms nearby flower petals into a pillow and blanket for her sister to use* Flittle please go get some water.
Fittle: Ok *Flies to the nearby stream*
Thistlewit: *Weakly smiles at her sister* Thank you Knotgrass, but you don't have to do all this i'm fi- *Cough suddenly, hard*.
Knotgrass: *Rubs her sister's back while frowning* Of course, so fine that you're caughing out your own lungs and look like someone stepped on you like a common fly. *Sigh* just lay down, drink your water and relax, hopefully what Maleficent has to say won't take to long.
Fittle: *Comes back with the water in a nut shell and helps Thistlewit drink it slowly* But why do you think Maleficent called all of us here Knotgrass?
Knotgrass: I don't know, but this better be important to risk are sick people to come here. *Hears coughing all around them and looks around* More and more seem to be getting sick each day, and are ''Guardian'' still hasn't done a think to help them.
Fittle: *Glares at Knotgrass with her hands on her hips* Now hold it there Knotgrass, Maleficent has done nothing but trying to keep are home alive for almost 160 years, if she hasn't there be nothing of it left and we would have all died years ago, she's doing her best all on her own, so cut her a break would you.
Thistlewit: *Cough sofly* Maybe- *Cough more* Maybe she did find a way to save us all and she called all of us here to tell us what it is.
Knotgrass: *Crosses her arms with a huff* Well, it better be.
A few minutes later, the Faeries could see Maleficent approaching from the air with Diaval. She stumbled a bit upon landing, but she catched herself using her staff, and quickly sat upon the throne, to observe the Faeries present.
Maleficent: *Internally Relieved* 'Good, they are all here' People of the Moors, i thank you all for answering my summon, i know that it must have been difficult for some of you. As you all know, The Moors, are home, is on the verge of disappearing completely and us with it, despite my best efforts to prevent this. In desperation, i've spent days at the Pool of Jewels using it's magic to find a solution.
This news caused the Faeries to whisper among themselves. Those who know the secrets of the pool did so with large smiles and veiled happiness while does who don't, but are confident of Maleficent's own power, did so with cautious optimism, not wanting to get their hopes up yet. After a while, Fittle flew up to Maleficent and asked if the Pool has given her a solution.
Maleficent: Yes, It has. *The Whispers of the Faeries, Healthy and Sick, suddenly rose up at the happy news, but a raised hand from Maleficent made them all settle down and listen.* The Pool has revealed to me the best option for all survival, but it demands that we make a great sacrifice.
Fittle: *She and the other faeries now look worried* Wh- What kind of Sacrifice?
Maleficent: *Takes a deep breath* To save what remains of are realm and are people, we must leave what remains of the Moors and go someplace revealed to me in the pool's reflection, to rebuilt anew.
The valley remained deathly silent for a moment, then every single Faeries voices rised in uproar at this revelation. Leave the Moors?! Their Home?! The place which they have work so hard to keep away from human hands?! Has their guardian gone mad?
Knotgrass: *Flies angrily to Maleficent's face* Have you gone insane Maleficent!? You want us to abandon the only home we ever knew and go somewhere unknown to rebuild? Preposterous, Look around you *Points at the others faeries, the sick ones specifically* Half of them wouldn't survive 2 days of such an unknown journey, if we leave the Moors they will surely die.
Maleficent: *Supports Knotgrass angry look with her own hard one* And if we stay we will ALL die, every single one of us *Raises her staff who's tip began to glow golden, causing neaby roots to assemble into a round pedestal at the center for all the faeries to see, and for a large ball of light to manifest at it's center, projecting some images* This, is what the Pool of Jewels has revealed to me: What remains of the Moors will be overrun and destroyed by the Humans destructive machines in less then 3 years from now, killing off what will remain of us.
The Faeries gazed upon the image in the ''Crystal Ball'' in terror, witnessing their homes being destroyed and robbed of what precious resources they had left by the greedy humans and their large, destructive machines they are so proud of, Worst yet, some could see among the turned earth and stones the remains of other faeries, their own remains for all they know.
The sight caused thet few faerie children present to hug their parents tightly, and some of the sick faeries to have harsh coughing fits. Fittle has fat glob of tears running down her face and Knotgrass anger began to dissipate, replaced with a deeper sadness and even deeper sense of worry.
Maleficent: Now i hope you all understand why we must leave are home, as difficult as it maybe, we must prioritise are survival *Another wave of her staff and the image in the ball shifts to a large, thick forest overlooking a chain of mountains where no human could be seen* This is to be are new home shown to me by the pool: The High Uintas Wilderness, one of the most isolated forests in the New World. It is where we must go.
More worried whispers could be heard, the New World? But they know next to nothing about it. How will they get there? Will they really be able to survive there? Do they really have a choice in this matter? If they don't leave then the humans will come kill them all in 3 years.
Knotgrass: *Looks at Maleficent with more understanding, but very worried* Be that as it may, there is no way everyone can make the journey and survive. You, Diaval, Fittle, i and other faeries that are healthy and can fly might have a chance, but Thistlewit and the others...
Maleficent: *Raise her hand to silence Knotgrass* We will not fly to the New World Knotgrass, not all of us anyway *Then reaches behind her left wing to take out a jewel she removed from the pool, which was glowing softly and floating over her hand like a miniature star to everyone's astonishment* the jewels that dwells in the pool have many remarkable abilities for the use of magic. I will use them to cast a teleportation spell, one that will send us all to where this jewel will be planted. Like a beacon through the night, it will bring us to are new home safe and sound.
Then she turned to a still Raven Diaval, extending the glowing jewel for him to potentially take with his beak.
Maleficent: And now time to play your part old friend. Take the jewel and fly to The High Uintas Wilderness. Find the largest and most isolated spot you can find there and deposite the jewel at its center, and it must be accomplished by sunset tomorrow. *The Raven nods, taking the jewel delicately in his beak before taking to the sky* Fly my friend, AND LET NOTHING STOP YOU.
Diaval flies fast and disappears in the sky, Maleficent watching the whole time into she couldn't see him anymore and once again turns her attention to the other faeries.
Maleficent: I must now go prepare the rest of the spell, in the mean time you must all go prepare to leave, bring only the bare minimum and make sure the sick and the children are prepared accordingly.
All the Faeries nodded and whispered affirmative words before slowly leaving to do what Maleficent ordered. Knotgrass and Fittle fly to Thistlewit to help her get off and fly to their home to get read and Maleficent walks in the Opposite Direction, back to the Pool of Jewels. On her way there, she encountered a ground of 8 small Mushroom Fairy children, seemingly waiting down that path for the Fae to arrive. She smile upon seeing in the little ones and gesture for them to come closer, which they did with their own smiles upon their little faces.
Maleficent: Thank You for coming, i have a very important job for you *Magically conjures up 8 little enchanted pouches* 4 of you will come to the Pool of Jewels to collect as much that remains of them as possible, while the other 4 goes around the Moors to collect as much seeds of different kinds of plants as they can, we will bring them all to are new home and use them to rebuilt are realm. Do you all understand what to do *8 little mushroom heads nodded*. Excellent, then off you go.
And so the first half of the mushroom fairies followed Maleficent to the Pool of Jewels, while the other half went off seed collecting.
A new era is upon the Faeries of the Moors, and they have much preparing to do.
To be Continued...
