NANOWRIMO - DAY 9:

Maleficent clapped. One. Twice. Slowly. She strolled up to the cradle. "That was certainly a display." she said, casting a glace at Merriweather, who glared back in response.

"My turn."

And the storm clouds were back. This time, carrying walls of green fire, ash and soot, like the erupting of some twisted volcano. Inside her bed, baby Aurora's eyes widened at the tall cloaked woman standing before her, her head raised to the sky, and the fire swirling around her. Her tiny jaw dropped wide open.

"What could this young girl want - need - in the entire span of her insignificant little life?" Maleficent watched the people around the room, eyes transfixed, scared out of their minds. This was her element. What she did best. "Is it glory? Riches? Beauty? What could our pampered princess possibly want that she doesn't already have? What now with compassion, wisdom, and the magic of Verity Rune?" Her eyes fell on the royal couple, staring up at her in fear. Stefan's eyes were pleading. He seemed about ready to kneel down and beg. Leah on the other hand was pleading in a different way. Standing tall, head raised in her direction. She grimaced at the winds tearing away her headdress and whipping through her hair. But she stood her ground. She met her eyes.

"Oh?" Maleficent's lips peeled back into a thin, cat-like smile. "Oh, I see now." She reared up, laughing into the darkness that rose above them all now. She stared down at the child, now bawling her eyes out, tears staining the scrap of cloth that gathered around her, running down the baby's chin and all over her face. Her nose was a snotty mess.

"She will indeed be passionate, with a heart of light; She shall have far greater than kings have ever seen; her hands will work for goodness and justice. But I shall grant her the greatest gift of all -" She raised her arms toward the skies and they came crashing down towards the child.

"Time."

It was barely a whisper but everyone heard. The little girl seemed to absorb all the shadows and green fire, encasing them inside the cocoon of her body as the winds came to a sudden halt and the light of the lanterns came back into focus. For a second, the child froze, eyes glowing gold. That too faded, and at once, she was just another sleeping baby.

Maleficent grinned, momentarily catching Leah's eyes.

"What a sleeping beauty," she said.

And she vanished.

EEYYYYY I'M KIND OF PROUD OF THAT WROTE IT FIVE MINUTES AGO OK NOW TO DO HOMEWORK BYE.