The Tale of Two Kingdoms

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Flora calls a secret meeting in the underground dungeon with her two sisters Fawn and Thistle.

“Flora what are we doing down here? It is scary, damp, cold.” Fawn rubs her arms as she flutters about. “Yeah, Flora what is the meaning of this why couldn’t you tell us up in Aurora’s room?” Thistle says with her squeaky voice.

“Oh, you two idiots shut up and listen. Come on, gather closer I don’t want anyone with ears to hear but you two. Maleficent contacted me in the crystal ball.”

Thistle flies up and circles angrily. “Of course, I should have known by this secret meeting in the DUNGEON!” “Stop shouting you i***t! Want us all to get the axe by King Stefan!” “No, that is why I am leaving right now!” “I am right behind you Thistle.” Fawn says and they fly away.

Flora flies in front of them pointing her finger in anger she instructs them back. “You two get back in there now! We need to do this and you will help.” The all fly back in arms crossed with pouting faces.

“Now girls if we don’t help her we are doomed so buckle up them falling lips and listen to my plan. Tomorrow night King Stefan is heading out for a few days with the general and some of his men. They are going to Moors city and have a meeting with the counsel and the human government.”

“How do you know this Flora?” Thistle asks.

“Because I overheard him talking to the general this morning. Now when he leaves we as in all three of us meet Maleficent at the north tunnel and let her in. The castle will be less security while he is away especially down here. Once she is in we will escort her up to Aurora’s room so she can see her for.”

“Why does she need to see her?” Fawn asks.

“I don’t know, but if we don’t she will be put a curse on us to die and I don’t want that do you two?”

They both shake their heads no.

“Good, so you understand when he leaves and is out of site we head to the North tunnel.”

“But what if someone comes checking on Aurora?”

“Thistle nobody checks on Aurora except King Stefan.”

“True.”

“Ok, girls let’s get back before someone sees or hears us fluttering around down here.”

The following evening King Stefan and his mean gather in the great room within the castle. Flora secretly watches them from behind a big curtain draped on the wall.

“We are ready my King.” The General says. King Stefan paces slowly in front of the men facing him waiting for his command.

“Whatever happens today with the counsel and humans are not to be retold. If they are seeking to investigate my castle, I will deny it! Do you all understand?”

“Yes, sir my King.” They all say at once.

“That means nobody will pass through the gates I don’t care if it is town folk, merry men, trolls, pixies, fairies, humans even a f*****g horse. Absolutely nothing comes in these castle grounds until I myself goes down and opens the gates.”

“Yes, sir my King!”

“Well, let’s get a move on it.”

They all march out the great room and outside. Flora waits till the door is about to shut before she flies quickly out the crack of the door high above the guard’s head and down the corridor.

 “Flora what did you hear? Are they gone? Is it safe now?”

“Fawn stop fluttering about for one second.” Flora flies to the window of Aurora’s room looking down on the courtyard as the men are leaving with King Stefan leading them.

“Once they are out of site we can go unlock the gate.”

Flora quickly flies to the door come on ladies show time.” They all fly as fast as their wings will carry them out the room and down the stairs till they reach the dungeon. Passing over guards Flora wonders how Maleficent will make her way to Aurora’s room without being noticed.

Reaching the gate, they unlock it with the key Flora lifted from a sleeping guard posted in the upper corridor above the dungeon.

“Hurry Flora.” Thistle says flying back and forth. “I am so nervous is this the right thing to do? Oh, we will get in trouble if King Stefan finds out what we have done.”

“Thistle stop your babbling and help me.” They all turn the key till the lock opens. When they look up Maleficent is standing on the other side with glowing green eyes. Flora, Fawn, and Thistle scream and jump back in midair. “Maleficent you scared the life out of us.” Maleficent pushes the gate open with a swish of her hand and walks through up the stairs as if she was floating. “Now Maleficent they’re guards out I don’t know how you will get by them.” “Oh, please Flora did you really forget after all these years?” She looks at her with a smirk. Floating out the arched way into the corridor two guards approaching.

“Halt, stop where…” Maleficent takes her staff and points it at them green light shots out the end of it and bursts into their chests lighting the whole corridor up as it moves further down as she floats by the guards laying on the ground.

“Oh, my how are we going to explain this?” Fawn says flying behind looking at all the guards laying on the stone floor.

Once in Maleficent reaches Aurora’s room she pauses in the doorway staring into the room. At the far side of the room by the window is a huge bed draped with sheer pink cloth around it. A silhouette of a body lays behind the cloth. Maleficent walks slowly towards the bed stopping ten feet away. She puts her hand out in front of her feeling the energy Aurora’s giving off. Flashes of events from Aurora’s dreams flood Maleficent head. Things from the time she was taken to the horrible events that she is still seeing as she sleeps.

Tears run down Maleficent pale slim face. Seeing the life King Stefan has brought upon her because she was her daughter. Pain, neglect, solitude and abuse. He would grow angry at Aurora when Aurora noticed she looked different from her mother the Queen. She realized she wasn’t her daughter. King Stefan locked her away for weeks at a time in the dungeon till she never spoke of these things again.

“She was only a child you Monster!” Maleficent yells out! She drops to her knees still seeing the events.

Almost pulling her hand away hardly baring the site of the time she turned 10 she started growing wings because she was part fairy like Maleficent. The Queen insisted someone removed them before someone seen them. Dragging Aurora down to the castle dungeon herself she tied Aurora to a stone table face down and with a sharp dagger raised it high above going to kill her but instead grabbed each wing and cutting them off. The screams from Aurora Maleficent face turns blood red, red smoke rolls out of her crystal in her staff. Maleficent stands up pulling the sheer pink cloth to the side. Staring at Aurora she reaches down and holds her hand. The three fairs flying above watching huddled tightly together as Maleficent and Aurora shake. Maleficent head falls back trying not to pull away from Aurora.

Green smoke starts slowly moving out from under the bed Aurora is on and filling the whole room like the green fog that moves through Moors City.

“Oh, my Flora do you see this? It is the green fog that is cursing people in Fairytale Kingdom.” Flying higher away from the green fog they hear Maleficent.

“My darling child… What have they done to you? Please forgive me as I could not find the courage in my own sorrowing heart to come get you back. I thought you would have lived a better life as the Kings Daughter, but I see how selfish I was in believing he’d love you for you are the fruit from his loins. I understand why you lie here cursing all that are in Fairytale Kingdom deep in my heart I knew it was coming from you. I could sense you in the green fog when it rolled through Moors City. You are my daughter and you have my powers even as you sleep they are strong my dear child.”

Maleficent opens her eyes and lays her staff down on the bed. Bending down, she kisses Aurora on the cheek. Maleficent bends to one knee next to her still holding Aurora’s hand with both of hers. The visions have stopped once Maleficent kisses her cheek.  

“I pray to the highest powers and all the creatures throughout the land for the good of this pure heart that lies in this child release the curse that is cast upon her. I revoke my words, I revoke this curse.”

Maleficent sobs and places Aurora’s hand against her cheek. Kissing it as the tears drip onto Aurora’s skin they burst into glowing sparkles that float in the air. The three fairies watch as the particles fly upward with smiles on their faces.

“Look she is opening her eyes? Thistle says pointing. The three fairies gasp as they watch Aurora slowly opening her eyes and looking around the room.

Maleficent feels Aurora pulling her hand away from hers she looks up and Aurora is looking down at her. Maleficent stands up reaching down and caressing Aurora’s cheek with her hand.

“My dear you’re awake!”

“Mother?” Aurora says.

“Don’t speak my child you have been asleep for a long time.”

“You came for me? After all these years?”

“Sshhh, Aurora save your strength.”

Flora flies down to see Aurora, Thistle and Fawn follow behind her.

“Oh, my sweet you are awake.” Flora says with a big smile.

“We must get you out of this castle.” Maleficent says.

“My father will not allow me to leave.”

“Well, we will see about that.” Maleficent stands up once again the anger takes over her. The staff light changes from green glowing light to red glowing light as so does Maleficent eyes.

“You three will help me get her out of here.”

“We are tiny how are we going to do that?” Thistle says.

Maleficent swirls her hand at the three fairies and they become full size people.

“Oh my, look at me I am big!” Fawn jumps around like a girl. “Stop playing around Fawn be serious.” Flora says smacking Fawn's hand.

“Ouch, why did you do that?” Fawn says holding her hand looking at Flora.

“We need to hurry now back to Wicked Range Forest before the King comes back.” Maleficent lifts her hand up and Aurora is standing on the ground. “Hold on to her you three she hasn’t walked in a long time.” Flora, Thistle and Fawn quickly grab Aurora as she sways from standing up.            

Maleficent swirls her cape and walks with her staff out of the bedroom quickly. Turning back to see the three and Aurora slowly walking behind. “We need to move faster than this.” She turns and points her staff towards them. Amber light emerges from under their feet and lifts them all up off the ground and whisks them quickly ahead of Maleficent. The light is connected to the crystal in her staff as she moves it they move.

“Oh, this is much better.” Thistle says giggling.

Arriving in Moors City the King walks into the Moors city councilmen’s building. His men stand guard outside except for the General who follows the King everywhere.

“Welcome King Stefan and thank you for joining us tonight with this matter at hand.” The master councilman says. King Stefan nodes to him. “Please, my King have a seat with us.”

On the other side of the long wooden table is the Human government, and police that have been investigating the bodies that were found outside the city limits of Moors.

“Let me start this meeting off with thanking everyone for coming and the hard work that has been put into this investigation. Please be seated.”

They all take their sits as the master councilman stands.

“They have brought it to my attention from our friends in the human kingdom that the bodies that were found were not dead as we expected, but in a coma like sleep from an ancient spell. One that we haven’t seen for over a hundred years in our kingdom. With this knowledge, we have been conducting our own investigation as well and we have found several groups that could be involved in it. As you all know here, we have Halfling's most are good people, but the ones spawned from bad genes and creatures that have an evil side they can’t control end up having the bad offspring. The ones that want revenge on the humans for being a part in their existence. So, what they have done is created underground groups, clans, gangs and have been educating themselves on transforming every part of them to look the perfect human. The halfling's here as you are aware don’t hide their features of the creature and human mixed genes you can see they are hallings. But the ones that rebel the only way to tell if they are Halfling’s and not human are to use a special indigo light. This light purifies the soul forcing the third eyelid to blink before the human eyelid reacts. Thus, revealing the true Halfling even with the best surgeries. The human eyelid takes longer because in humans the indigo light is soothing yet to a Halfling it is harmful.”

A man on the Moors city council raises a question?

“I heard there is a way for them to get around this test.”

A man on the Human government side stands up.

“Yes, you’re correct and I am glad you brought that up. They have a very intelligent Intel within these organizations and they have endless supplies of technology pouring in through barters that exchange it from our side to your side in the price of gold coins. Gold on our side is very valuable much more than it is here. Now we have tried to stop these barters, and we have arrested a lot of them some have telling us exchanging information and arrests have been made to bring down the bigger ones, but they’re still is some and they have gotten wiser and smarter to who we are. Even with the help on your side. Now the thing that can block this light on a Halfling is a special therapy glasses which they know we remove any eye glasses when we test, but what we didn’t know till just recently they have made contacts that fit over the whole eye. These contacts act the same way as the special glasses do and we never noticed them till recently in a capture we made of a gang of Halfling's that was robbing small business in one of our cities. Thanks to Diablo.” He points to Diablo at the table and he stands up.

“Thank you and hello my fellow teammates, and friends. I am a special investigator contracted by the human government to search and find these Halfling gangs that have avoided our testing technology. After thoroughly examining a Halfling a few months back I discovered a wrinkle in the lens of his eye. Finding this strange because I never have seen this before in them or use humans me and my men tried to view it closer yet he fought us and tried everything to keep us from finding it we had to sedate him. Once he was sedated we could view his eye closer, and I placed my finger on the wrinkle and pulled it aside pulling the lens onto my finger. We quickly put it in saline water and under a light and this is what it looked like.” Diablo holds a photograph of a faint yellow dot that looks like it is floating in a clear liquid.

“As you all can see the yellow dot is where the pupil would be. The area around is clear to show the white of the eye. The yellow area doesn’t allow the indigo light to penetrate it which doesn’t allow the third eyelid to react leaving us to believe this is a human.”

The room talks amongst themselves after Diablo tells them about the lens.

The master councilman takes over. “Thank you, Diablo, for your fine work in bringing this to our attention.”

King Stefan speaks.

“The Halflings are using Chakra. Chakra is a healing practice among what we call witches and evil fairies. They have plagued our kingdom for centuries. If we find the source of the one teaching this practice to the Halflings, we will find the one making the lens. But this doesn’t answer the one casting these spells upon the humans. My theory to these two things is the humans that are being put under this evil spell are ones that have found out and were a risk of telling the authorities about them making these lenses so the Halflings are paying someone to cast the spell.”

“How will we find the one teaching this my King? How will you know who is casting the evil spells?” The master councilman asks.

“I have a good idea of how it could be. I will address her once we leave here. I will let you know when I have her and the information on where to find the one manufacturing the lens. Once I get them, I will find the one casting the spells.”

“Yes, my King.”

“I thank you gentlemen for your time, I must go find this person.” King Stefan stands and he and the general walkout.

“Excuse me, King Stefan.” Diablo says as he rushes over to speak to him.

“I have been investigating a lot of individuals here and I have a few in mind that are the ones making them. Would you mind if I show you the list?”

“No, please do.”

Diablo pulls the list out of his pocket and unfolds it handing it to King Stefan.

“Can I ask why you believe this business is the cover for this operation?”

“I have been doing surveillance on this place and the people coming, going and work there I have seen many Halfling's posing as humans coming through and I know they are not there for s*x or a date, but to distribute the lens. Like you said if you find the one making them you find the one keeping the ones who know quiet.”

“This is my first stop when I leave here. You did a great job in your investigation now it is time for me and my men to take down the ones that have done this. Excuse me.” King Stefan hands the list back to Diablo and walks away.