Persephone slipped out of her mothers sleeping arms, exiting through the door. It had been a few months after Maleficent had taken her in as her apprentice and daughter, and a storm had come in last night, depriving her of sleep because of Persephone's fear. She walked with perfection down to the throne room. Persephone had also been learning proper etiquette and such, to look more graceful and proper, and had learned to do so in the matter of a few days. She heard some goons whispering down the hall and quietly crept up to hear them, curious at their constant whispers.

"Why would our Mistress be so kind to that stupid weakling?"

"Shhh! Do you want her to hear you?"

"I don't care if the little whelp hears me! I could beat her and kick her out in two seconds!"

"Well... Yes, I guess you could. Hey, I could help, it might be fun!"

Her anger boiled inside her rapidly. How dare they say such violent and abusive things behind her back! She couldn't contain her anger and came out from her hiding place, glaring coldly at the two now frightened goons. She smirked evilly as she summoned her favourite type of magic; fireballs. Since her mother knew of her fear of storms, lightning was out of the question. The goons looked pale as a ghost when her eyes showed malice and anger.

"It would seem you two have forgotten that these halls echo... Oh but don't worry, I'll remind you!"

She threw the growing fireball and gained a squeal of pain from both of the guards. She laughed menacingly in enjoyment. She chased them down the hall to the throne room, fireball after fireball. She didn't seem to see her mother begrudgingly and tiredly coming down from her chambers. She was laughing still as more guards came to snicker at their comrades plight. She smirked as she turned on them.

"So you wish to join the fun, boys? Well join right in!"

She threw two more large balls of fire at the crowd and they screamed in terror. She also didn't seem to hear her mother laughing as she made her way to her throne. Persephone threw one last fireball before seeing that she had made the room empty of life. All except one had abandoned the smoldering room.

"My darling daughter, it would seem I've taught you well. Almost too well it seems."

Persephone turned around and blushed furiously, looking down away from her mother. Maleficent opened her arms for her daughter, making the girl smile. She ran to her mother's embrace with eagerness. Her eyes shut before her mother broke the contact.

"Well let us not waste precious time. We'll start something new today."

She led Persephone to the courtyard of the castle only to be met by a band of knights and a few lowly townsfolk, with swords of iron and torches aloft. Maleficent calmly put her daughter behind her, as one the the knights stepped forward.

"Maleficent, on order of the king, we demand that you release the Lord Hamilton from your dungeons. Or we will take him and his daughter by force."

Persephone growled at her stepfathers title. He was still in the dungeons and was justly so put in there, being punished as was fit. Before Maleficent could speak, Persephone came out from behind her and held her hands to my hips. It was a childish habit, but it suited her well. She glared hatefully at the blundering fools before her.

"Take one step from where you stand and we'll obliterate your idiot band!"

She couldn't help but maliciously giggle at the easy rhyme and took a quick glance at her mother. She saw amusement in her mother's eyes and a struggle to hold back her wicked laugh. The knight scoffed making Persephone eyes start to glow gold ever so slightly.

"A mere girl fight a company of twelve men? Preposterous! Women don't fight the battles, they stand and obey their husbands and lords! You should be grateful that I am saving you from this... this heartless wench!"

That made her anger explode making her eyes pure rays of the sun. She turned to her mother, getting the wicked gleam to her eye along with Maleficent.

"Before our lesson, mother, dear, I think these imbeciles need a lesson themselves, don't you?"

She smiled tenderly before waving her hand towards the men, looking flabbergasted and terror stricken.

"After you, my dearest daughter."

She stepped forward and saw one of the knights laugh and raise his sword, charging at her full force. She stopped him mid-way by placing a freezing spell on him. Evilly cackling, she magically picked up the frozen body, spinning him around like a tornado. She threw him full force at the townsfolk who dropped their weapons and ran, the man, unfrozen now, and flailing around in the air before slamming into the ground. Another fool of a boy charged her, only to have his legs jump from his body and run around him. No blood was flowing from the boy as he screamed in horror at his legs running around without him. Mother laughed as she disintegrated another knight trying to stab her right side.

"Well done, Persephone! Very creative and malicious, my daughter."

Persephone smiled and turned around swiftly as another knight tried to attack her sneakily. She held a hand to put a finger on her cheek tauntingly.

"How pitiful that you are being defeated by only a woman and a mere child. My, that must infuriate you terribly."

He growled and thrust his sword forward only nicking her in the waist, Persephone hissed in slight pain before looking up at the knight with fury.

"You will never see the light of day again, fool!"

Without thinking, she raised her hands up and opened a giant crevice in the earth where he stood. He fell easily, screaming for his life and flailing his arms helplessly. She rested her arms to her side and let the earth swallow him whole. She turned to the knight who had said women cannot fight to see him kneeling before her mother, his sword in her hands. Persephone went to stand by her dear mother's side when she heard footsteps behind her. When she abruptly turned, a dagger slashed across her arm. She yelped in pain but backed off before another strike could be made.

She held out her hands towards him and two ghostly hands grabbed him harshly, making the dagger, covered in her own blood, drop to the ground in a red mess. She clenched her hands tightly until she heard the same cracking of bones like before with her stepfather, but this time she didn't stop. She waited until the boy was limp and crushed beyond repair before the hands dissipated. She held her arm as it began to burn before hearing her mother.

"Persephone, come here."

She obeyed and turned to stand by her mothers side. When Maleficent looked down, she immediately grabbed Persephone lightly and gazed at the cut in her daughters arm.

"Persephone! What happened? Are you alright?"

Persephone whimpered as the burning intensified through her mothers touch. Maleficent growled and turned to the knight angrily.

"Leave my domain while you can before I change my mind..."

The knight nodded vigorously before running out the front gates. Maleficent turned back to her young daughter and chanted a healing spell to heal the wound. After the chant, the bleeding stopped and the wounds disappeared. Persephone sighed in relief and hugged her mother tightly.

"Thank you, mother."

Maleficent smiled and stroked her daughters head gently.

"Your welcome, dear."

Persephone smiled and looked up at her mother, a question on her face.

"Mother, can I go into the forest for a little while? Its been so long and I don't think either of us is in any condition to practice magic after all that."

Maleficent sighed, but smiled at her little girl as she rubbed her temple.

"It sounds alright with me as long as Diablo goes with you to keep you safe."

Persephone nodded and ran through the front gates, Diablo following close behind.

Persephone was walking through the forest when she heard a voice coming from a glade a few meters from where she stood. As she got closer to hear better, Diablo, on her shoulder, began to bristle his feathers with anxiety. Persephone ignored the birds warning and went on. She came to be in front of a bush that was blocking her view, and she pushed it away to see a young golden haired girl dancing in front of a cottage. Three plump women were behind her, the red and blue dressed one were fighting while the green one tried to stop them, were ignoring the child who was only one year old. Persephone smiled at the little one and began to approach.

The women retreated into the house, leaving the one year old alone outside. Persephone came to kneel in front of the child as she looked up and giggled. She smiled and was about to pick up the child when a worried voice came from inside.

"WHERE'S ROSE?!"

Persephone jumped back into the bush before the woman saw her with her child. The green one slammed the door open and ran to pick up the baby, called 'Rose'. She looked at Diablo and laughed, as he cawed joyfully. She started to walk away when the babe started to wail inside the house. Worried voices screamed at each other inside, making Persephone's interest peeked. She turned back to the house and quickly approached, the wails of Rose spurring her on. She knocked on the door and Diablo flew to land on the roof. The blue one from earlier answered the door and scowled while the baby wailed still behind her.

"Who are you and how did you get this deep in the woods?"

Persephone curtsied and tried to look around her to see Rose, but the woman stopped me. She knew this woman would be very protective and she needed to be smart and not tell her the truth of how she came here. Well, not the full truth.

"My name is Persephone, a peasant from a village a little ways away from these woods borders. I was going about my stroll through the woods when I heard a baby cry. The babies wailing brought me here and I was just wondering if you needed any assistance?"

The blue woman nodded and stepped aside, now smiling politely.

"Your offer sounds acceptable, and we greatly appreciate it."

Persephone nodded and stepped across the threshold. She saw the red and green one surrounding a cradle, holding a cranky Rose. They turned to her and the red one scowled at the blue woman.

"Merryweather! What's the meaning of this?! Who is this?"

Persephone curtsied politely and slowly approached Rose. She gave the child her finger, releasing soothing magic through it to Rose, despite the heated argument of the two more spiteful women, the red one being called 'Flora', and the blue one being called 'Merryweather'. Rose stopped crying and giggled happily as she played with the older girls finger. The green one put her hand to her heart and looked at Persephone with a smile.

"Your really good with Rose, dear, and you only just met her! I'm impressed!"

Persephone smiled up at her and looked back down to see Rose reaching to be held. She smiled and happily picked up the child carefully, before responding.

"Well I've been told that I'm rather likeable with children, so that could be it. Oh where are my manners? My name is Persephone, what's yours?"

The woman giggled and extended a hand as I placed Rose, now asleep soundly, into her bed.

"My name is Fauna, and... well I suppose you've already met my sisters, Flora and Merryweather."

Persephone laughed before looking outside to see the sun beginning to set. She smiled politely and retracted her finger from Rose's tight grip.

"Well it seems all is well now here, Fauna and I do believe that I need to depart. My mother will be very worried if I don't return home soon."

Fauna smiled and hugged her abruptly. Persephone sighed and hugged her back before heading out the door.

"Oh and Fauna?"

She looked at her with the kindest smile I'd ever been given, other then her mothers.

"Yes, Persephone?"

She smiled before backing away slowly to the comfort of the surrounding trees.

"I can tell Rose is in good hands, but try and not argue in front of her at such a young age. Its quite upsetting for her, as you probably know."

Fauna nodded and hushed her sisters behind her before smiling once more, shutting the door as she did.

"Of course. Thank you so much for your help, dear."

She shut the door completely and then everything was silent. Diablo returned to her side and placed himself on her shoulder. She stroked his feathers gently before readying hem both for teleportation.

"Let's go home, Diablo, my friend. And not a word to mother about this affair."

He nodded slowly as I snapped my fingers, a dull sea green flame enveloping us, then disappearing with a flash, leaving only a tiny scorch mark on the ground where we once stood.