I stare at the letter in my hand. And stare. And stare.

Dear Maleficent,

I received your letter regarding the christening of our newly born child, and though your desire to attend is clear, I am sorry to say that you will not receive an invitation. Only our prestigious and honored guests of our allied kingdoms or kingdom acquaintances have been invited, those who do not fit those categories have not. Thus your attendance would be inappropriate.

Sincerely,

King Stefan of the Enchanted Dominion

I re-read the letter again and again. “Our allied kingdoms have been invited.” Allied? Were our kingdoms not allied? Did Stefan not remeber the peace agreements we had signed? The alignment our two kingdoms had made?

Ah, I see. I see it clear as daylight. “Allies.” “Acquaintances.” Clearly, I am not their ally. Nor their friend. Clearly, I am something entirely different. I remember those names hurled at me over and over again throughout my life. “Different. Out of place. Wrong. A witch. A mistake.”

I scoff. Half of those insults came from Stefan himself. Yes, it was clear now what I was to him. Clear now what he must be to me. If I am not his ally, I am his enemy. And he is mine.

- - -

Two weeks later

I flick my fingers and the ivory double door entrance to the ballroom crashes open, a blast of wind and thunder sending the decorations tumbling. The chatter in the room stopps and I watch as everyone rears back in horror.

I can’t help but grin. This wasn’t even the best part yet. With another flick of my hand, I landed in the middle of the ballroom, engulfed in a burst of flame.

Ah, there he is. The king. I look at him and my grin only widens. The flames surrounding me dissipate, the silence in the room deafening. I break that silence.

“Well, well, well.” I nod my head down to the king and slowly turn in a circle, taking it all in.

“Quite a glittering assemblage, King Stefan. The decorations-“ I gesture to the streamers and banners I had sent crashing down in my entrance. “The prestigious guests, oh and I see even the little fairies have joined you. You really have outdone yourself.”

“You’re not wanted here!” The Smurf of a fairy yelled. What was her name again? Flory? Or was it Waterweather? I chuckle down at the little thing, glaring up at me.

“Leave, witch!” Stefan shouts, throwing his hands up at the open doors.

Before, a remark like that would have sent me sobbing in my bed for weeks. Now it made me smile. Oh, what fun.

“Oh?” I said, more to the king than the fairy. “I was truly hoping it was just a mistake for my invitation to never have arrived. But…now I see. I am not wanted here. Of course.” I look at Stefan, taking in the fear smeared across his face, the small tremble of his hands.

“But now I see, it was my mistake. It must have slipped my memory. We are not…oh, what did you call it? Allies? Yes, we are not allies. Certainly not friends. Oh, no, that is my mistake entirely. We are enemies, of course.”

Gasps sounded from around the room. Now was my chance.

“Of course, if we are enemies, we must act as such, my dear, king Stefan. Now, what do enemies do? Can someone enlighten me?” I spin, peering around the room. Dead silence.

Then, finally- “what do you want, Maleficent?”

I tilt my head at Stefan’s question.

“Why, I want to do what enemies do. If we are enemies, we must fight each other. Kill, curse, corrupt, whatever it takes to take down the enemy.” I scan the room then my eyes finally come to the three jokes of a fairy. Though fear glitters in their eyes, they stand straight, shielding me from something behind them. Something that I know is the key to Stefan’s undoing.

It’s just simple business, really. Revenge. As all enemies do. Stefan said we are enemies, so enemies we are.

I gasp with delight and make my way to the fairies. “Oh, is this the little princess this lovely celebration is for!” The fairies stay firm, a weak barrier between me and my prize.

I twitch my hand and send them flying back, crashing into the wall behind them.

I reach into the small crib and gently pick up the infant.

Stefan and his wife rush to my side.

“Please! Please don’t hurt her! I’m sorry. We should have invited you! Please!” He clutched onto his wife like a cane holding him stable.

I watch him. Silently. This was what I had felt. All those years of him name calling me. And now he says we are enemies, and he can finally experience it for himself.

I smirk. And let go. The infant comes tumbling down and screams erupt around me. At the last second, a cloud catches her and carefully brings her up to my hands. I look up at Stefan’s face and laugh. It was unnecessary, really, but oh the fun!

“Now, now, that was just a practical joke. But, oh are you lovely!” I outstretch my hands to examine the child’s face. She dangles from my hands, her eyes closed and letting out soft snores.

“Maleficent, leave! You have no reason to be here!” The king bellows.

“Tut, tut, tut! Of course I have a reason to be here. Is this not the christening of your newborn. What is her name?” I look at Stefan expectantly.

He swallowes. “Aurora,” he says quietly.

“Oh, tiny Princess Aurora. I have a gift for you!”

Stefan exchanges worried looks with his wife and I lay the baby back down in her crib. I hold my chin up and look at Stefan as I yell out my gift.

“My gift, to you, princess Aurora is that you will indeed grow in grace of beauty. Be loved by all known.” I hold up a finger. “But.” I hold my arms up, and grin, bellowing “Before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday! She shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. And die!”

Gasps, screams and cries explode from the crowd and I watch as Stefan gaped at me, the color draining from his face.

Yes. Yes, this is exactly what I wanted. This alone could have brought me enough delight to last a lifetime. My grin widens and I throw my head back, laughing. The screams grow louder and so do my laughs. Finally! Revenge that would leave Stefan and his kingdom in shambles! It’s all I could hope for! I laugh and laugh, flames slowly flickering around me. With one last bellow, the flames explode upwards and I am gone.