Feathers and Mirrors [Maleficent]

Ah. She felt it. The pull of her familiar's purposefully left feather finally being addressed. It was Maleficent's way of telling the woman that she'd seen her. She'd felt her presence and for a sorceress as powerful as Maleficent was, that meant something. Of course Maleficent knew what was necessary to know. Out of respect she did not delve in all her scryings into the more personal aspects of the queen. She was aware that Grimhilde was queen of this world by marriage, that her subjects feared her and that the queen's vanity knew no bounds. Her insecurity lived in one of the princesses of heart, possibly the fairest most demure of them all. That was precisely what lead Grimhilde to her plights. Maleficent understood it as well. Afterall she had a princess of her own, a creation of all that she was supposed to have and was denied.

Maleficent was pulled into existence when the feather cast to the cobblestone erupted into a flash of lime green flame, an anomaly clearly otherworldly. From the tresses, the sorceress emerged, her head bowed and her hand out in a bow toward the queen. This was afterall, Grimhilde's castle and though Maleficent truly bowed to no one, there was royal protocol to follow. Her horns lead the way for her chin to lift as she addressed the queen. "I was wondering when you would call on me." Maleficent mused. "Though you remained subtle, I could sense your presence. Even among my agents of chaos, your hidden power remained a beacon." without saying the actual words 'it's why I left the token' it was certainly implied.

Maleficent was also certain in the recent past she'd felt the presence again which told her that the queen too had her ways of watching. Though Maleficent could chose to remain in shadow of she fell
t the need, she allowed the wandering eyes. She couldn't begin to guess however what means the woman had of scrying. It was certainly something she wondered at. "What troubles you?" afterall it had to have been something the queen couldn't accomplish on her own.

A waltz as it were. A dance between two powerful beings. What seemed like compliments were really informative observations. They'd been watching eachother and desired to make that fact apparent, but it was all part of the game. Grimhilde confessed that she didn't have any immediately pressing concerns save for a small girl and the dark fairy smiled knowingly. "Ah yes." the plague of the princess indeed.

The queen introduced herself more formally as was expected of her and she acknowledged that Maleficent already likely knew of her. The Dark fairy merely smiled with her lashes in response. What the queen wished to know was what Maleficent wished of her. In truth, there was nothing she truly required of the other woman, however, the fair had few doubts that an alliance with her would be a very fruitful one indeed.

Maleficent's expression remained coy and calculating as she took slow steps toward the queen's perch, her robes billowing behind her like the black tendrils of the dark corridor itself. "Were you aware that your Snow White was one of seven princesses that when gathered together possess the power to access a hidden realm? I once held your princess' heart in my hands, you see...and I too had a princess once." there was a thick malice on her lips as she chose her phrasing. "I was but a mere breath away from becoming something far more timeless than any living being could ever dare to define." there was pain there in her voice almost as if she'd spent a great deal of time lamenting what was evidently lost. This, however, was a lot of information. Her gaze flickered snake-like toward Grimhilde curious on her thoughts so far on this matter. How much did the woman already know? How much piqued her curiosity?

Grimhilde made her assumption about 'true love's kiss' being the reason for Maleficent's failing in the finality on Aurora's life and her capture. To some degree perhaps that was where the blame could be placed but that wasn't the whole story. This Queen was unaware of the possibilties that Kingdom Hearts could grant and that the rules were different there. True love, for instance, didn't hold the same power, nor did a kiss. There were ways that Maleficent was realizing she might be able to use this vain woman but there was more beneath the surface also. She was sure of it.

The Queen suggested that perhaps she ought to be keeping her eyes out for other princesses in her travels and Maleficent's lip curled in her contemplation. "Indeed. You will know their fair appearances and radiant hearts the moment you see them." she advised with disgust. "As for the power of a kiss?" Maleficent began, a confession of yet more enemies to her name. "My curse wouldn't have been quite as penetrable. It was altered by a plump little blue fairy. If I ever get my hands on her I will drain her of her magic and her life alike." Where Flora, Fuana, and Merryweather were remained a mystery to her though she would not be surprised to learn they were still in hiding under the protection of the old wizard. Maleficent had no success in learning anything about him and as a result was hesitant in trifling with him. As soon as the memories of the three good fairies brought her back she flew off to recover her strength. That was the last she'd seen of those fools or the great wizard.

"You might open yourself to the idea that we'd be allies. Why, you could be the fairest in all the worlds when we're through." they'd leave little left for competition afterall. "For now, extra eyes are a commodity I'd be most grateful for. You know worlds I've not visited I'm sure and corners I've not noticed. What I require most is a gullible key wielder. I must find one that I can utilize. Should you see one that seems promising, I would appreciate the information. In return, I will see what I can do about returning your princess to you, once we have her heart, what happens to her is of little concern."

"Yes. I have often thought that one of the main requirements for wielding the keyblade was a strong ability to be a great nuisance to me. It doesn't come as any surprise that you've had them romping about your world without a trace of concern as well." she conceded with an elegant wave of a rather pallid hand. The crow at her shoulder seemed to ruffle his feathers in response to her words and she lifted a finger to rub at the top of his head. The terms seemed agreeable enough to both parties but Maleficent wasn't entirely finished just yet. She needed to know this queen a while first and make good on her own promise before she could be sure of what exactly she could get away with. For now the dark fairy would leave things as they were.

"But I've digressed. I suppose this means that for the time being, Snow White is also my priority." Maleficent bowed once more, this time a bit more softly like an afterthought of a sort. "You'll have your princess much sooner than you ever thought possible. I'll take my leave now, Grimhilde. I am pleased at how fruitful this meeting has been. I expected nothing less from a royal lady." Enough flattery. She didn't want to overdo it but the vain always responded well to compliment. Maleficent turned her back on the queen, another act of good faith between those who were powerful. Her entire form appeared to become engulfed in green flame as she stepped until she and the flame seemed to disappear entirely. Only one trace of her presence was left behind: A glossy crow's feather.