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Only her mice and her dog seemed to care for her in her home. Occasionally, one of her step-sisters would bring her an extra piece of bread or would attempt to fetch her own laundry, but otherwise Cinderella felt as if she lived alone in her manor. Despite this, her spirit was unbreakable. She thought it was going to break the night that the prince's steward showed up on their door step and all she could do was bang on the attic door ad try to pry it open. It felt as if the world and her heart shattered, but she still persevered the best she could.
And her step-mother seemed to despise that. So in the span of a week the old woman took a large sum of her late husband's money and paid for a live-in maid to come and live with them, meanwhile shipping Cinderella off to a strange castle at the corner of the kingdom with the intent to break the girl's spirit.
Now, Cinderella found herself in her new strange temporary home. Instead of being asked to clean as she expected, the strange woman only asked Cinderella to fetch her things.
First, it was just small bundles of flowers, weeds, and other plants. Then she was asked to catch frogs and salamanders, which Cinderella brought back to the strange woman with the creatures donning small outfits. Amused, she would watch in the garden of thorned-roses of red and black as Cinderella bravely lifted up rats and tamed them within minutes. As time continued, she became amazed by the woman's courage and strength.
Her step-mother seldom did visit, but when she did, Maleficent found herself amazed by the way Cinderella took abuse with a blank expression.
"Has she been too much trouble for you? I'm sure she's been crying every night to come back home." Her step-mother said to the strange woman.
The green-tinted woman narrowed her eyes at the step-mother, taking in her mannerisms and tone. "She has been a pleasure to have. She will continue to stay here."
The step-mother grimaced at the blonde girl who stood by the queen of darkness, her head bowed and here eyes closed. Somehow, despite the disgusted glare glued to her, she stayed resilient and blank. "Yes, I suppose that is fine."
And with that, her step-mother left, and Cinderella's face regained a quiet smile. "Do you need anything else today, Lady Maleficent?"
Humming, the fairy-witch nodded. "Yes. Come to my throne room. I have something to discuss with you."
Blinking slowly, Cinderella followed after the taller woman, standing beside the throne. "What do you wish to discuss?"
"That woman, your step-mother... she is a parasite to you, is she not?"
Her blue eyes widening, Cinderella softly gasped and held a hand to her chest. "I don't know if I could call her that, but ... yes, she can be a difficult person to deal with."
"There is no need to be so kind-hearted to someone who has no warm feelings for you."
Right away, Cinderella gasped again. "That's not true. If I am kind enough, my step-mother may one day appreciate me and everything I do for her and my step-sisters." She glanced down at her slippers, then flicked her eyes back up. "Isn't that correct?"
"Not always, I'm afraid. Come, sit beside me." Maleficent commanded, summoning an additional, smaller throne beside her. Cinderella marveled at the magic, running her hands over the seat.
"Are you sure it's alright? This is a throne fit for a queen, not a servant..." She mumbled, and when the other woman only nodded she turned and carefully sat down.
"I believe that you have the power to be more than just a servant. You can tame animals like an ancient crone would, and you are incredibly resilient compared to other servants I have had. In the past, there were several who ran at the first chance once they saw me, or would cower in my presence and refuse to fetch my items... but you, you are different. You are strange." She hummed thoughtfully, holding her hand out and calling for her crow, who came quickly. "You are loyal and like a stone in the face of adversity."
Shaking her head with a small smile, Cinderella denied the compliment. "I am no stone, my lady. I am only able to hold in my reactions because I know that the consequences would be severe. My step-mother would surely make me sleep in the barn, or on the streets... as if the attic isn't cramped enough."
"You sleep in an attic at home?" Maleficent questioned, one pointy eyebrow raising in concentration.
"I do, my lady. They say it is what I deserve. They are the ones who branded me Cinderella. My name is really Ella, but... when I was a girl, they made me climb into the fireplace every night and clean it, and I would be so covered in cinder and soot that they called me that."
Standing suddenly, Maleficent marched forward. "As of today, you will live with me. I will teach them to fear you, and help you to not fear them. They will no longer call you Cinderella because you are covered in cinder, but because you breathe it and command the flames."
She grabbed her staff and waved her hand over it, before motioning Cinderella to follow. Reluctantly, the woman approached her and stared into the glowing green orb that lit up her face. She tenderly grabbed one of Cinderella's hands and guided it over the light, making the blonde softly gasp.
"What are you doing, my lady?"
"Just relax. I am teaching you how to command magic." She whispered, and Cinderella slowly nodded.
"I do not need to use it to hurt people, do I? Can I use it to help others?"
Suddenly, the light dimmed and Maleficent moved her hand away, instead turning her attention to Cinderella. "Why would you do that? You can be more powerful than those who torment you, those who wrong you. Don't you want that?"
"...Yes, but not through hurting them. I just want to survive their torment, not torment them in return." She mumbled, and the green-skinned woman turned her head slightly. "I just... I believe that there is rarely a person who deserves to be tormented."
Inwardly sighing, Maleficent reached forward and softly pinned Cinderella's chin between her thumb and index finger, making the other stare up at her. "Your step-mother... she is incorrect in what she told me about you. Your spirit is indeed unbreakable."
Something in the tenderness of the interaction made Cinderella sigh and smile softly, causing the other woman to turn her head in amusement. "What is it?"
"I'm not used to someone being so nice to me... would you really let me stay here? For as long as I need?"
"Forever, if you wish." Maleficent replied, and she felt something in her chest grow warm. "However, I do have some requirements."
Her smile growing wide, Cinderella leaned forward and hugged the fairy-witch tightly. She pulled away, her hands still wrapped upwards around the other's neck. "Oh thank you! Anything you require, I will find it for you."
Maleficent felt herself growing softer. She still was the evil sorceress of all evil, but maybe even she had an Achilles heel, a weakness, and that weakness stood in front of her, inches from her face.
"Well, I require you to continue your education. I will have tutors come and teach you to read. And I will require you to learn some magic, which I will gladly teach you. While I am not going to show you the light magic you seemed to suggest earlier, I can show you magic that is not as evil as my own... and I will require that you move into a larger bed chamber."
Her eyes sparkling, Cinderella leaned forward and kissed the other quickly, before pulling back just as soon. "Oh, I am so sorry, my lady! I did not mean to do that, I just... you are giving me such wonderful opportunities, I am just so happy. I've never been this happy."
Smirking, the fairy-witch pulled Cinderella towards her again, kissing her deeply. "There is one more requirement I ask of you..." She whispered as she pulled away, "I require you to forfeit your heart to me. Understand?"
Shyly, Cinderella nodded. "It's already done."
And with those words, Cinderella finished melting the blackest and coldest of hearts.