Princess in the Rough
Chapter 29

Echo

I swear Maleficent, if you did what I told you NOT to do… I let the threat linger in my mind, not really knowing what I would do.

Where would she be? I asked myself as I ran through the castle. If she did what I think she did, than she’s probably at the blackberry bush with the spinning wheel.

I ran through the town, with its occupants still half asleep. I really, really, really hope she didn’t put herself to sleep. I’m such an idiot for even suggesting it. What was I thinking?

“Maleficent!” I yelled again once I was outside the castle gates. I ran to the blackberry bush, never noticing I still had Excalibur in my hands.

“Oh, no.” I whispered once I saw the bush. A single figure stood by the bush, she was tall and skinny, like she never ate anything. Her black hair was all over the place, as if she had fallen without control. Her pale skin seemed even paler in the sunlight as she slept in a slumber she would never awake from.

“Maleficent, no.” Tears filled my vision as I cradled the sleeping princess in my arms. She could have had a much happier life, she could have found someone to love her for who she was.

“I’ll remember you, Maleficent.” I cried as I placed my hand on top of hers. “Forever and always.”

I don’t know where that saying came from, forever and always. But it sounded right.

I sat there, crying over my friend when Amber, Zavana, and Prince Chance ran in and ruined the moment

“Echo! Echo?” Amber did a double take at the teenager cuddling an old woman. Zavana on the other hand was looking at me with pure disgust.

“What are you doing?” She asked me as she recoiled from the women in my arms.

“Something the rest of you never would have.” I said with resentment. All Mal had ever wanted was to be wanted, and for things to be fair.

I put one of her arms around my shoulder and tried to carry her back to the castle. If the others wouldn’t let her in, then maybe I’ll take her to the wolves.

“Join the witch?” She spat. “You’re right. I never would’ve done that.”

The other side of Mal’s sleeping body became lighter. I looked over and saw Amber supporting the otherside, the still half asleep Amber who probably had no idea what was going on.

“If you’re mourning this woman that somberly, she must’ve been important to you. Important like a friend, not a witch or a evil commander. I trust your judgement. Who is this lady anyway?”

“Uh, your aunt.” I answered.

“And I never got to meet her? Aww. What’s her name?” Amber said sorrowfully.

“Maleficent.” I said slowly.

“Hmm. I like it. When I was asleep, I saw a few things. I don’t know what they were, some were words, others pictures. One of the pictures was her. One of the words were, uh, I can only say the letters, that’s all I know.” She chuckled nervously.

“Amber. Get away from the traitor and the witch. Now.” Zavana growled. Prince Chance, who had been observing, ran off to get some guards.

“Am I a traitor for helping the women who rescued your whole kingdom? Am I a traitor for helping the princess you disowned? Am I a traitor for giving an old, sad woman hope? Am I a traitor for believing that someone could change!” I shouted the last one, enraged they would call me a traitor when all I was doing was helping.

“You dare call this hag a princess? Have you not heard of her crimes? Have you not heard of the crimes her grandmother has committed before her? You have some nerve telling the princess she’s related to this, this, she-devil?!”

“The only she-devil I see here is you! Are you blind of the love that Maleficent has for Amber? Maleficent || was the one to give her to the wolves to save her, she was the one helped me replace Excalibur to get through the brambles, and she’s the one who sacrificed her life to save your kingdom!”

“ENOUGH!” Amber bollowed and a wave of power washed over me, making my legs go numb and my mouth freeze shut. By the looks of it, the same thing happened to Zavana. “You guys are acting more like animals then the wolves I grew up around! You’re acting more childish than me, and you bicker more than Night Cry and Green Paw! Now, I don’t understand half of what you’re saying, but I understand that this woman, is my aunt and has done some bad things.

“Echo has shown nothing but compassion for everyone we meet, Zavana knows firsthand of what this woman is capable of. I don’t care what you girls think! Let me make my own decisions about Maleficent, by order of me! The princess!” Amber raged.

Shame billowed up inside me. I wanted to apologise, but something was keeping me from opening my mouth and my legs felt rooted to the ground.

With inhuman strength, she took Maleficent from me, and stormed into the forest.

At last, three minutes of glaring at Zavana passed and the, spell, or something wore off.

Earlier, Prince Chance came by and found us in such an eye lock, he feared the consequences of interfering and backed off.

With one last look of hatred at Zavana, I ran into the forest after her, hoping I wasn’t too late.

After running for what seemed like hours, I found her, Night Cry, and Green Paw, digging a hole in a breathtaking meadow near the den. I silently walked up but I didn’t get very far before getting spotted by Green Paw.

“Amber, it’s Echo Kaya!” He barked.

Amber look up at me like I was a sickness that needed to be wiped off the face of the earth. It ripped a gash in my heart, but I probably deserved it. I was being awful earlier.

“What?” She hissed.

“Amber, don’t be mad at me, or Zavana. You’re my best friend and it rips my heart in half to see you hate me, or anyone else, so much. Please Amber, please forgive me.”

Amber growled and walked up to me. We were face to face. Amber falutered for a second then burst into tears. Her arms squeezed me close and her tears soaked my shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Echo! I’m so, so sorry! I forgive you!” She sobbed.

“It’s okay Amber. You didn’t mean what you said.”

“I didn’t mean it! Not one word!” She heaved. She looked up and wiped her eyes.

“Amber, I know now probably isn’t the best time, but, I helped you get home, will you help me get home?”