Maleficent

by Disney Book Group

  With a cry of joy, Aurora raced to her mother. She flung her arms around Maleficent and clung to her, holding her like she would never let go. Maleficent hugged her right back. And then slowly, gently, Maleficent began to stroke Aurora’s hair. “Beastie,” she said softly.

  Aurora let herself weep. For everything she’d almost lost. For all that Phillip had lost. For the darkness Ingrith had caused. But as the tears fell, they became tears of joy. She had gotten Maleficent back. Maleficent had come back for her. For love. Her mother might make light of it someday, but Aurora knew now, more than ever, that love was the most powerful magic of all.

  Hearing footsteps, Aurora reluctantly pulled free. Phillip stepped forward, and this time it was his arms she fell into. As the Moor folk and the humans watched, they hugged. “What now?” Phillip asked, stepping out of the embrace.

  Aurora looked from Phillip to Maleficent, and then out over the gathered crowd. They had seen such horror. What could possibly be done to fix the terror Ingrith’s reign had brought upon them all? Then a smile began to spread over her face.

  Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the crowd. “Our two worlds will be united—right here, right now!” she declared.

  Moving to stand beside her, Phillip nodded, a smile on his face. Aurora didn’t need to say more. He knew what she was thinking, and with a strong voice, he added his support to her idea. “Let fear no longer divide us,” he announced. “Today marks a new way forward—together!”

  As faeries and humans began to cheer, Aurora looked over her shoulder at Maleficent. To her surprise, she saw Lickspittle coming up behind the Dark Fey. In his hands, he held the spindle. Aurora cocked her head, unsure of what was happening. Lickspittle had been Ingrith’s pawn for so long. Was he there to hurt Maleficent—or help them in their new path forward?

  “I believe this belongs to you,” the pixie said, answering Aurora’s unspoken question.

  Reaching out, Maleficent took the object. In the light of day, it looked so harmless. The item had brought such sadness, yet in its own way, it had forged the path that had led them all here. This simple piece of wood had brought Aurora and Maleficent together; it had brought Aurora and Phillip together; and in a way, it would soon bring their kingdoms together.

  “Curses never end,” Lickspittle added as Maleficent stared down at the spindle. “They break.”

  Maleficent nodded. With a flick of her finger, she lifted the object into the air, where it hovered.

  Below, Aurora addressed the crowd. “Today, there will be a wedding,” she said. “It is not a union of two people, but a union of two kingdoms. All are invited. All are safe. All are welcome!”

  As loud cheers filled the air, Maleficent let out a stream of green magic. It hit the spindle, shattering it into a thousand pieces. As it did, a shock wave of magic washed over the grounds of the castle. Flowers in the garden burst into bloom and butterflies swooped through the air as nature returned to Ulstead. In the middle of a gravel path, a huge willow tree shot up into the sky, its long, weeping branches drooping to the ground. The curse that had hung over so many for so long had finally ended.

  Well, for most.

  Hearing a shriek, Aurora turned and saw Ingrith being dragged out of the castle by the Dark Fey. The queen flailed and screamed, but her protests were in vain. Her clothes were ripped, her cheeks stained with dirt. Her usual composure was gone and panic was in its place. But no one stepped forward to save her.

  “You cowards,” she screeched. “We cannot live among monsters like these—”

  Ingrith didn’t get to say another word. Maleficent’s fingers twitched and a ray of green magic blasted toward the queen. It faded with a puff of smoke and, standing where Ingrith once stood, was a goat. The animal let out a plaintive “baaa” and then sneezed.

  Aurora stifled a laugh. There could be no worse punishment for the queen who hated nature than to spend the rest of her days trapped as a goat.

  “Someone should really cover her horns,” Maleficent said, meeting Aurora’s gaze. Then she flashed a smile—fangs and all. Aurora laughed and the sound broke any remaining tension between them. The curse was truly broken. It was time for a celebration.

  WHEN AURORA ANNOUNCED THAT SHE AND PHILLIP WERE GOING TO GET MARRIED THEN AND THERE—SHE HADN’T ENTIRELY THOUGHT IT THROUGH. Now, as she stood protected from the eyes of the gathered crowd by the leaves of the willow tree, she momentarily regretted her impulsivity. While she’d never been one to be particularly vain, the idea of getting married to Phillip in a dress that was ripped, torn, and covered in filth was…disappointing.

  Aurora turned at the sound of rustling leaves and saw Maleficent entering the canopy. “How do I look?” Aurora asked, trying to sound happy as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

  Maleficent’s eyes narrowed and a frown tugged at her lips.

  Not good, I guess, Aurora thought.

  But before Aurora could make any excuses, Maleficent flicked a long finger and magic washed over Aurora. When it cleared, Aurora’s hair was smooth and her face was clean. A new dress had replaced the tattered one she’d been wearing. And unlike the heavy, severe dress Ingrith had given her, this dress was breezy and light and allowed her to move freely. Covered in fragile pink flowers, its train billowed out behind Aurora like a lace river. The bodice was made of the purest white silk and the fabric of the thin sleeves was nearly translucent. The skirt of the dress flowed out from Aurora’s hips, covered the ground at her feet, and made it seem as though she and the dress were part of the same ground. It was strong, yet fragile. Bold, yet timeless. It was the embodiment of Aurora and the Moors themselves.

  Looking over at Maleficent, Aurora clapped her hands. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “Thank you.”

  For a moment, mother and daughter stood quietly. The air felt heavy with emotion. There were so many things Aurora wanted to say. Apologies for what she had done and how she had acted, promises for the future. But it felt like the wrong time. Those words didn’t need to be spoken. She knew Maleficent had forgiven her. Instead, she posed a very important question.

  “Will you walk me down the aisle?” Aurora asked.

  There was a pause.

  “You know, they say it is bad luck to deny a bride on her wedding day,” Aurora added.

  Ever so slowly, a grin spread across Maleficent’s face. “Very well. If you insist.”

  As relief—and happiness—washed over Aurora, she peeked out at the castle through the willow’s branches. Like her, it seemed lighter, happier, and the feeling of hope began to grow. And as she spotted someone emerging from the castle doors, the hope grew. It was the king! The spindle’s destruction had awoken him. He was dazed but okay.

  While Phillip ran to him, Aurora turned back to Maleficent. The day had been full of heartbreak. But things were changing. The spindle was destroyed. Ingrith was gone. The king was awake. Maleficent was alive and well. It was time to look to the future. It was time for a wedding.

  As the setting sun filled the sky with a riot of colors, Aurora stood at the end of a long makeshift aisle in the middle of Castle Ulstead’s lawn. Beautiful flowers lined her path, draping the ground in petals and filling the air with their perfume. Firefly faeries flitted above, creating a twinkle of lights to brighten her way. On either side, more faeries stood intermingled with humans, at ease and at peace as they waited for Aurora.

  Aurora thought her heart might burst as she looked out at the guests and farther along to where Phillip stood beside Diaval. She smiled as she saw King John approach and embrace his son. He whispered something into Phillip’s ear and then, with a happy smile, stepped back, allowing his son the place of honor at the head of the aisle. A moment later, Ingrith, in her goat form, skipped in front of the men. At this, Aurora’s smile faltered only slightly. While it was bittersweet for them to see Ingrith this way, she knew that neither Phillip, nor his father, truly minded the outcome. Aurora shook her head. Now was not the time to dwe
ll on the sad moments or the lives lost. She had imagined this day for so long. And now it was here. And it was better than anything her dreams could have conjured.

  Maleficent’s eyes were full of emotion as she stood beside Aurora. Aurora squeezed her mother’s hand, and the music began to play. Together, they walked down the long aisle. Stopping in front of Phillip and King John, Maleficent gazed at Aurora. Aurora didn’t need words to know what her mother was thinking. She could feel her love. As Maleficent gently placed Aurora’s hand in Phillip’s, Aurora knew the faerie was giving her a mother’s blessing.

  “The rings, please,” the officiant said.

  Pinto stepped forward. The hedgehog faerie’s face was aglow with pride as she held up two rings. Made of vines, the rings were simple but stronger than metal. They, like the moors from where they had come, would last forever. With a satisfied nod, Maleficent stepped aside and took her place next to Diaval.

  Aurora turned her attention to the officiant, but not before she heard Diaval say, “I like the new look. And I was thinking—”

  “Nasty habit,” Maleficent said in her cool, even voice. “You should stop.”

  Diaval ignored the Dark Fey’s snarky retort and pushed on. “I was thinking that we do the bear thing from now on. I think we would look good together, prowling the Moors—”

  “I don’t prowl,” Maleficent said, stopping Diaval mid-sentence.

  Then she waved her hand in the direction of Arabella, Ingrith’s horrid cat, and the creature transformed into a beautiful young woman. Diaval gasped as Arabella’s eyes locked on his. “This is good, too,” he said.

  Focusing on the officiant, Aurora listened as he spoke of love and honor. He asked them to promise to cherish the good and be patient through the bad. Aurora and Phillip had indeed lived through enough bad for a lifetime. It was time to get to the happily ever after.

  “Do you, Phillip, take Aurora to be—”

  Phillip didn’t let the officiant finish before answering, “I do.”

  “I do, too!” Aurora said, just as eagerly.

  The officiant laughed. “Okay, you may kiss—”

  But again the couple didn’t let him finish. Their lips met, and they melted into each other in a kiss that was completely magical. It was a kiss that symbolized their love and marriage but also defined their future—and the future of their kingdoms. For all those who were gathered, it was clear the future would be wonderful.

  SO THE DAYS PASSED AND THE SEASONS CHANGED—AS DID CASTLE ULSTEAD. WITH QUEEN INGRITH GONE, THE PALACE BECAME BRIGHTER. THE HALLWAYS FILLED WITH LAUGHTER. The coldness ebbed, and warmth entered. Bright flowers bloomed in the gardens and within the castle walls. It was a stark contrast to Ingrith’s reign and her harsh, taxidermic decor. Despite its massive size, Castle Ulstead became a home.

  At the heart of this new home were Aurora and Phillip. Their marriage had brought the peace they had promised and finally united the citizens of both kingdoms. Human children of Ulstead and faerie children of the Moors played alongside one another, their laughter a joyful reminder of how far things had come. In uniting their kingdoms, Aurora and Phillip had created a better one, a place where all were welcome.

  Standing on a balcony, Aurora looked out over her kingdom. A gentle spring breeze carried the smell of impending summer, and on the grounds far below, she could see flowers blooming. Beyond the river, the Moors looked lush and rich as leaves and flowers flourished. Hearing footsteps, she smiled as Phillip joined her on the balcony.

  “What is it, love?” he asked, taking her hand.

  Aurora grinned. “It’s a new day,” she said simply.

  “I suppose it is,” Phillip answered.

  As they watched, Maleficent appeared and hovered over the balcony.

  In the days since their wedding, the Dark Fey had grown more comfortable around Phillip and even King John. She spent equal time between Castle Ulstead and the Moors to show all that the peace between the kingdoms was true and lasting.

  But the time had come for Maleficent to return to the Moors more permanently. The faeries needed her—especially the Dark Fey who now called the Moors home. While they flourished in the openness the Nest had never offered, they lacked guidance without Conall. Maleficent had become their de facto leader—and mother. While Aurora would miss the undivided attention, she knew soon enough there would be reason for Maleficent to visit Ulstead.

  “Maleficent,” Phillip said in greeting, unaware of his wife’s thoughts.

  “Could you stay awhile?” Aurora couldn’t help asking, her voice a bit shaky. She knew she sounded every bit the young girl she had once been, but she didn’t care. She was going to miss her mother, even if she was only across the river.

  Maleficent smiled at Aurora. Taking her hand, she squeezed it gently. “I have work to do,” she said.

  Aurora nodded. Maleficent was right. In the days following the wedding, Maleficent had told her all about the Nest and Conall. Aurora had wept when she had learned Maleficent had lost such a wonderful friend. But she also heard the happiness in her voice and saw the joy that lit up Maleficent’s face as she talked about the young fey. She knew her mother had found peace playing with them in the Moors.

  She also knew that Maleficent would always be there. Together, they had made that possible. The division between the kingdoms was gone, once and for all. Both the Moors and Ulstead were flourishing. And as her mother moved to fly away, Aurora knew there was another reason for them to remain forever connected.

  Maleficent turned and looked at Aurora and Phillip over her shoulder. “I’ll see you at the christening,” she said, smiling.

  With a flap of her wings, Maleficent soared into the sky. Behind her, Aurora laughed as Phillip turned to her in surprise—her secret revealed. As he pulled her into a hug, Aurora watched Maleficent fly toward the Moors, her wings spread wide. As she dove, a group of young fey flew up to meet her. Even from where she stood, Aurora could hear their laughter as they called to Maleficent, asking her to play.

  Aurora smiled. Her family was growing. And so, it seemed, was Maleficent’s. Individually, they had found happiness they didn’t know was possible. But together, they had made dreams come true. Together, they’d created a world where there would be love—forever and always.