A Painful Reminder

Walls of stone, bearing the hue of dim ebony loomed around her. Torches were mounted on each wall face, dousing the room in moderate lighting. Her shadow writhed with each flicker, her cruel horns like dancing spikes. For the most part, she seemed motionless, eyes like shards of gold were slitted downwards, scanning the contents of the papers she clutched. Adjacent to her desk was a perch for her familiar, Diaval to crown it like a dark jewel. The evil fairy was immersed in her documents, scanning the updates and reports majority of her underlings offered with mild content.

Diaval’s dense plumage fluffed, enlarging his body as he uttered forth a caw which gathered her attention. Reptilian eyes shifted towards the doorway, thin brows arching as someone entered without as much as a knock. His throat strummed a sound and recognition flickered in the depths of her gaze. The leopard in which she spared, however vivid images churned within her dark mind as she remembered the scene. His kin was defiant; he was met with a cruel fate by her scepter which throttled him with immense electricity. As fate would have it, if one would even consider him lucky, he ended up surrendering his servitude to her. Blinking, her perceptive eyes glossed over his posture for hostility but he rattled like a frail leaf in a torrent of wind.

Inclining her chin, she quietly looked towards him as he struggled to even speak within her presence. She offered no words as he barely flung out each word, her face cold and unreadable as she watched him tremble.

“You want to see your parents?” she repeated, voice distinct yet lacked any disdain or hints of mockery. It more so seemed clear, business-like. Diaval shuffled his feathers and peered with gleaming, displeased eyes towards the feline but made no further sound.

“Hmm,” hummed the fairy in wonder, “Have you seen to your duties for the month? Cooperating with your superiors?” prompted the fairy once more, her tone didn’t seem annoyed but she was quite hard to read if she showed no expression. In all honesty, she knew the answer for Diaval has seen him during certain times but she wanted to hear his own words.

Frosty gold eyes didn’t depart from his slightly shaking form, her expression stoic. While she was very much aware of his disdain for her, she could sense his fear which to her was amusing but to gloat right now wouldn’t be very good of her. Maleficent had appearances to maintain and being a twisted person at the moment wouldn’t serve anyone good, so she merely kept her intrigue to herself.

Kai spoke, his speech rattling like a bag of bones being tossed about. He affirmed everything she asked for and did some rather politely so she fully allowed a break in her composure. She smirked, pleased with herself and for the most part, pleased with him. Diaval cawed pointedly, scowling at the feline from atop his perch with cruel, glinting eyes. He very much had a name and didn’t like being called ‘bird’. Maleficent raised suddenly, her chair uttering a moan of protest as she scooted it. Her long, talon-like fingers stroked her familiar.

“Retrieve some suitable Knights at once,” she beckoned casually which caused the Raven to take flight, near silently. Diaval’s wings ascended him into the air and he swerved past the gaping door which abandoned the two alone for a moment. Her heels uttered noisily atop the stone flooring and she flicked her wrist towards Kai as if to request him to follow.

“Very well, we won’t be doing it alone then. Let’s see to finding them,” she speared him not further glance before advancing to leave the office, her ebony robes rippling like a dragon’s wing.

The sound of wings flapping was the first thing to alert Su Wu. When her eyes opened, and her good eye fell on Diaval, she realized that she was being summoned by Maleficent herself. A smug little smile tugged on feline lips. Whatever the task was, big or small, Su Wu was pleased to have the chance to show what she could do. Diaval's caws, though unnecessary, led to Su Wu rising from where she had been meditating to answer the call. From there, she moved swiftly from her room and into the hall. The rest of the journey wasn't that complex. Although Su Wu had never personally visited Maleficent before that moment, she at least was aware of where she needed to go. That was even with only one good eye.

Before too long, the leopardess entered the room and moved past Kai. Her gaze shifted from Maleficent to Kai for just a moment. By then, Su Wu was more or less adjusted to the idea of 'feral' animals living among those like her. She didn't so much as bat an eye at it. Instead she turned her attention back to Maleficent and pressed her hands together. Then she tipped her head down in a bow.

"Your excellence," Su Wu purred. "I came as fast as I could after Diaval arrived. How may I serve you?" If Kai was there, then Su Wu could at least hazard a guess. She didn't know him well. What she did know was that there were whispers about captive leopards within the Black Keep. Could he have been related? Su Wu would learn more soon enough, and she'd figure out if she could use the information to her advantage later. For the time being, she was keen to quietly gather information and do as her leader instructed.

After all, she wouldn't have gotten as good as she was if she boldly struck out without knowing what she was dealing with.

Not a knight or a soldier, nobody to actually escort the leopard, no, Bellwether wasn't there for any of that. She was there to follow Maleficent, to make sure she kept tabs on everyone and everything. So, trotting on the stone floor, Bellwether ran as fast as her fluffy legs could carry her. She would not be late for a meeting with the mistress of darkness. Tucked under the arm of her blazer was a notebook, a couple of stray papers flying out behind her, luckily blank and nothing important. A pen was between her fingers. She would note this and whatever else Maleficent wanted.

Sliding to a stop she took in the sight. The leopard was sitting there and a few soldiers had shown up. Su Wu and Mandisa. Two characters whose names she'd written down to tally the army's numbers. She had lists and she was starting to get to more and more pages. The army was growing and growing and that was just excellent. After the success of the raid on the troop of Suns, she was happy to see their numbers grow. Perhaps if they started getting larger and larger they could attack another city. Attack a camp.

Attack Zootopia?

Shaking her head she put those thoughts in her back pocket. She'd bring Zootopia up at some point with Maleficent. Right then she was doing her duties to the leader of their group and the Mistress of evil. Picking up speed again the ewe trotted right to Maleficent's side.

"Should I write him down?" She said, panting a bit as she was out of breath, "What's going on, did-did he do anything worth changing the records? Oh boy, there are a LOT of stairs in this castle."

Maleficent stepped forth from her chambers, distinguished and gradual, completely calm if Kai chose to follow or lingered. It mattered not to her, this was his request and if he chose to not come then so be it. Amber eyes tore to notice he indeed intended to follow and yanked her gaze forward once again, hiding her amused expression. It was boring most of the time; she realized running a city was more complicated than simply striking fear into their hearts. It took a bit to halt her desire to simply extinguish the Enchanted Suns once in for all. Maleficent had hoped their ambush struck fear into their hearts; the thought nearly caused her to laugh.

Diaval had returned rather hastily, the gentlest extension of her scepter coaxed the bird atop it. Without further hesitation, Su Wu had approached and she nodded her tapered chin in acknowledgment, along with Mandisa. The bi-pedal leopardess was poised, thorough with a cruel glint that often intrigued Maleficent. Mandisa was a unique hued lioness, intuitive and eager… Her loyal subjects, it was fitting that two of her precious subordinates came to greet her. The fairy hoped Kai watched and learned, he could be treated very well if he merely wished it.

“I wished for you two to accompany me and Kai, he wished to see his parents who are held within the castle… And to ensure his best behavior I thought it best if you two came,” a pleased smile curled wickedly along her face. While she never encouraged bullying amongst her ranks, she wanted Kai to see true loyalty and that it was rewarded. Finally, just the glorious sheep she had wished to see. Bellwether sauntered onto the scene and Maleficent offered her a small, lightly fond look.

“No… He wants to see his parents. I assume you know where they are currently being held?” prompted the empress. Maleficent sought uses out of everyone and if no one was useful, then they simply should be disposed of. Preferably, she would have wanted the leopards hunting and scouting but if they escaped it would be dissatisfactory. She mulled over their uses and already had an idea. Glancing towards Kai she held a small glint within her gaze.

“Let us go,” her long fingers gestured and she offered for her dear secretary to lead the way.

Mandsia felt a small swell of pride when Maleficent revealed that she requested them personally. It meant that she was doing something right. Mandi couldn't wait to tell her father later that night. She cocked her head slightly and glanced over at the leopard when Maleficent said that they were going to escort him to see his parents.

Whatever they were being held for, it was probably on them in some way. After all, it was much easier to just comply with the Thorns then fight against them. Mandisa padded over to Kai on his left while Su Wu took the right. Mandisa didn't know her or Bellwether that well. She didn't like the animals that could stand upright like humans. It was unnatural.

The patchwork lioness padded along side Kai towards the room where his parents were being held. Mandi smirked slightly at Su Wu's comment. She studied the clouded leopard as they led him to where his parents were. He was a bit older than some of the cubs of her pride, yet younger than her. He was clearly in a bad state, however that wasn't Mandisa's place to judge. She was just there do to a job.

"Aw c'mon, chin up, we'll be there soon." It was only slightly mocking, but there was an obvious cheeriness to her voice. The kid really needed to lighten up.

Kai felt Maleficent's gaze on him, and he growled in his throat. But her glint gave him the feeling that she was thinking up something horrible. But he followed Maleficent anyways. Then the female leopardess Su Wu started to mock him. "Sweet, huh? You have a funny definition of sweet," he muttered. The more she talked, the angrier it made him. He, of course, stuck to her right. Then a female lion started to speak to him.

"I'm sorry if I'm not 100% happy, but I have my reasons, and you don't need to know them," he said, though it was soft, and not meant to be taken as rude. He didn't need to lose the chance to see his parents. Besides, why was everyone mocking him? What did he do to deserve that? What did he do to them to warrant such cruelty?

Then he heard the female sheep speak, and this time, he did not speak. They were in a cell? That was awful! His parents loved the sunlight, and couldn't stand damp and dark places. He felt so bad for them.