Mistress of All Evil (Villains 4)

“My darling, do you know how beautiful you are?” Nanny asked. Maleficent’s pale cheeks turned pink, so Nanny changed the subject. “I know you’re going to do well today. I just know it. And if you will forgive the suggestion…you know I love you just as you are…it’s just that—”

Maleficent stopped Nanny before she could continue. “I had already planned to cover my horns.”

“Not for me, mind you. Just so there is no reason for my sister to give you grief!”

“I know.”

Nanny patted Maleficent on the cheek and then gave her a light kiss. “You know I think your horns are beautiful.”

“I know you do.” Maleficent flashed her mother a radiant smile, returning the kiss with another. “Thank you, Mother.”

Everyone was assembled for the exam in the main garden, which happened to be one of Nanny’s favorite places in the Fairylands. The fountain statue was fashioned in the image of Nanny’s old friend King Oberon—a large, imposing tree with a kind and wise face. Water cascaded from the statue’s full branches, replicating rain. Nanny looked at her daughter with pride as she stood beneath the towering statue, waiting for her exam to start. She looked majestic in her new robes. Maleficent had covered her horns with silver ribbons Nanny had given her, which matched the embroidered silver crows on her gown. Nanny thought Maleficent looked almost grown-up. It made Nanny’s heart swell with pride to see what a lovely and intelligent young woman her daughter had become. She’d never imagined Maleficent would want to take the fairy exams. Even if her sister didn’t pick Maleficent for wish granting, at least Maleficent was brave enough to take the exams with the other students after everything they had put her through when she was younger.

Merryweather was bossing around Fauna and Flora, as she often did. She was instructing them on the importance of all three passing together as they waited for the exam to start.

“Oh, Maleficent, what are you doing here?” Merryweather said, her nose wrinkled up as if she’d smelled something putrid.

“I’m here to take the exam, of course,” Maleficent said, pretending Merryweather and the fairies at her side weren’t making ugly faces at her. Maleficent looked around, wondering why the rest of the class was standing off to the side.

Flora followed Maleficent’s gaze. “Oh, they aren’t taking the exam. They’re just here to watch us.”

Maleficent frowned. “Why?”

“Because they know they don’t have a chance with us taking the exams this year,” Merryweather said as Flora and Fauna giggled.

Maleficent shook her head. It seemed time had not changed the three. They were the same haughty, arrogant fools they’d always been.

“Even if they’re not given wish-granting privileges, surely they will want their certificates for completing the course?” Maleficent said.

“What good is a certificate if you can’t perform the most honored of fairy duties?” Flora said, making all three fairies laugh.

Just then, the Fairy Godmother cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. She was standing in front of the fountain to address the group. She wore her customary blue robes and large pink ribbon. Behind her were lovely cherry blossom trees, their petals softly falling around her and the students. “I stand here in the shadow of the Great One, Oberon, King of the Fairies. He was our great benefactor and protector for many years, until he saw fit to drift off into obscurity, leaving my sister and me the burden and privilege of continuing fairy education.”

Maleficent scoffed inwardly. Oberon had actually left the honor to Nanny alone, but she had decided to share it with her sister.

“And it is my privilege to once again pick the three students who will venture off into the many kingdoms to spread fairy magic to help their charges, young women and men in need of our special brand of magic. When I was a young fairy, waiting to take my exam, my heart fluttered at the thought of holding a young person’s dreams in my hands. It is a great responsibility, and an honor that must not be taken lightly. Only the best of us are granted this status, those of us who are truly good, and good of heart.”

Maleficent felt a pain in her stomach as the Fairy Godmother said those last words. Good of heart.

“Of course, there are other very honorable, important vocations for the fairies who aren’t granted status. You will all use what you have learned here from your instructors at this prestigious and venerable academy wherever your path takes you.” The Fairy Godmother paused, smiling at all her students.

“And with that, we shall begin our exams. Each of you will be given a young charge who needs your help. He or she will present you with his or her problem, and it will be your job to figure out the best way to help. You must choose the kind of magic best suited to his or her needs. Remember, even though this is only an exercise and the young men and women standing in for your charges are only here for the purposes of the exam, your magic is still binding. So please, do use caution, and whatever you do, please refrain from using harmful magic.”

The Fairy Godmother looked right at Maleficent when she said harmful magic. She might as well have punctuated the sentence with Maleficent.

Nanny and the Fairy Godmother created a series of paths, each spinning out in a different direction. Fauna and Flora grimaced at the idea of having to take their paths alone, without their friend Merryweather to help them. “Fairy Godmother, can’t we do the exam together?” Flora asked. “The three of us, Fauna, Merryweather, and I?”

The Fairy Godmother thought about it for a moment. “It’s not the custom by any means, but I don’t see the harm.”

Nanny objected. “If Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather take the exam together, then they should be counted as one fairy. Should they perform highest in the class, their wish-granting status should be granted to them as a group. Therefore, two other fairies should be selected, as well.”

“Well, I’m not sure…” The Fairy Godmother’s voice trailed off. But a demure golden-haired fairy dressed in sparkling blue spoke up.

“I would like to take the exam, then,” the fairy said softly.

Maleficent smiled at the fairy in blue. “Then you should! Come stand by me.” She looked at the other students who had just been there to watch. “Everyone who wants to take the exams should. Don’t let those fools intimidate you.”

Slowly, many of the other fairies stepped forward. Merryweather, Fauna, and Flora looked around nervously at the large group that had decided to compete against them. Watching the fairies, Maleficent had to laugh.