Visions Are Seldom All They Seem

"Can you see it, Stephan? Can you feel it too?" Through the darkness, Maleficent's rich, brown eyes seemed to glow gold as they locked with Stephan's. At the same time, her hands locked with his. Maleficent's magic was certain that she and Stephan were destined for a long, lovely life together. "Just you and me against the world, just like it's always been," she grinned, and he grinned back, squeezing her hands happily.

She'd seen it in a vision. "You just might be the hero, the savior, of this story! The key we need to finally unite our kingdoms and end the wars instead of perpetuating them!" He was already a rare breed, a human frequently visiting the Moors and learning to respect them rather than take advantage. Even though he was a human, and Maleficent a fairy, they were brought together by the very war that tore their species apart. They were both orphans because of the wars, so they understood all too well how devastating the animosity between humans and fairies could be.

But Maleficent's favorite part of the vision was him and her, just the two of them wandering the Moors together forever. "And if I know you—" her eyes sparkled playfully, of course she knew him, "—I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream!"

ooo

Maleficent stumbled and staggered through the Moors. They were her home, but they no longer felt that way. Instead, the woods and trees felt hostile and cold to her, as if she was now a foreigner within her own lands. Was this how humans felt here? Was this how Stefan—?

Even just thinking about him sent a piercing pain through Maleficent's heart like an iron bullet. No, he should've never felt lonely here! Not after how much Maleficent had done—and done for him—trying to make him feel at home by her side, right where he belonged, right where he was supposed to be. So then why...? Why did she wake up alone? Utterly alone... It wasn't just Stefan who was missing, but her wings.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" It was a rage, a scream, that shook the earth and filled the heavens. Even Stefan heard it, miles away, safe in his human kingdom. His heart fluttered fearfully, like wings trying to beat their way to an escape.

No... No! I didn't do anything I wasn't supposed to! It was as Maleficent herself had told him, once upon a dream. He was destined for greatness, and his destiny was going to be intertwined with hers. Well, he'd fulfilled that prophecy, hadn't he? Rather than slaying her, he merely... took a trophy. But it was better that than death! Surely! He would fool the king, and Maleficent would live. If anything, he'd done her a favor. So why...?

Why was he running? Why was he hiding? If he truly felt justified, why was he acting as a thief in the night? Her screams would haunt him forever. She was still searching for him, the man she loved, her lifelong childhood best friend. The one with whom she was supposed to walk the Moors forever. She'd seen it once upon a dream, but now it was time to wake up, and the morning light was harsh, cruel, and unforgiving.

ooo

"I know you..." she said, the smallest of smiles flickering across her face.

"Do you?" Maleficent smirked back. And who, pray tell, do you think I am, Beastie? Do entertain me with your cleverest conjecture!

"My fairy godmother!"

"... What?" Had it been anyone else, Maleficent would've been certain they were lying, trying to make a fool out of her, but something about this girl, this Aurora... was genuine. But that still didn't answer Maleficent's question. What?

Aurora nodded fervently, as if she'd waited years to say this, even though such a notion was surely folly! "I walked with you once upon a dream!"

It was a memory so faint and early that Aurora couldn't be sure if it was reality, dream, prophecy, vision from a past life, or something else. "That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam." Glowing green. She remembered it from when she was a babe. She remembered lying on her back, half awake and half asleep. All she saw were flickers of emerald flame, but she would recognize that color—those eyes—anywhere. They'd followed her for her entire life, watching over her, protecting her, belonging to that mysterious shadow guardian of hers, her fairy godmother.

"I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem, but I think... I have known you for a very long time... and I have been waiting even longer to see and speak to you like this, just like we did once upon a dream."

Maleficent could only gawk as Aurora rambled. As the girl drew closer, Maleficent finally forced herself to look into her eyes. She almost recoiled.

That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam... Aurora's eyes... Those eyes... So familiar to Maleficent... Her own shot open. HIS eyes!

"Can you see it, Stephan? Can you feel it too?" Through the darkness, Maleficent's rich, brown eyes seemed to glow gold as they locked with Stephan's. That vision she saw all those years ago, of him and her at this exact spot in the Moors... What if it hadn't been him at all?

I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem...

The eyes were correct, but what if the one Maleficent was meant to walk with was... not Stefan... but his daughter...?

Aurora smiled sweetly up at her, utterly unafraid. She extended a hand. "And if I know you, I know what you'll do..."

Maleficent's mind unwillingly finished the song from years prior. You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream...

ooo

"Well, Beastie, look at you. You did it. You saved the day, ended the wars." Maleficent came up behind her daughter, smiling.

"Oh, it wasn't just me," Aurora chuckled humbly, embarrassedly.

Oh, but it was... Maleficent thought back to years—decades—ago. She'd seen it in a vision. "You just might be the hero, the savior, of this story! The key we need to finally unite our kingdoms and end the wars instead of perpetuating them!"

Stefan was a rare breed, a human visiting the Moors and learning to respect them rather than take advantage. At least until his own greedy ambitious caught up with him, and he chose a new set of values. But still, the prophecy, the vision, the dream remained. There was another, so similar to Stefan, yet so different. She made different choices. She was the child of both worlds that united them all. And now...

"Just you and me against the world, just like it's always been," Maleficent smiled, reached out, and held her daughter's hand. Aurora was more than happy to reciprocate the smile and gesture, nodding happily. They walked together through the Moors, passing every familiar haunt they could think of, including the ones Maleficent and Stefan used to frequent. Maleficent smiled as she watched Aurora's footprints override her father's, erasing the past, and setting the visions right.

I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem.

Aurora rested her head on Maleficent's shoulder as they walked on. "And since I know you, I know what you'll do..."

Maleficent smiled and finished the song for her. "I'll love you at once, the way I did once upon a dream..."