MALEFICENT
Maleficent is a powerful fairy living in the Moors, a magical forest realm bordering a
human kingdom. As child, Maleficent meets and falls in love with a human peasant boy named
Stefan. On Maleficent's 16th birthday, he gives her what he calls a true love's kiss. However,
as they grow older, the two grow apart; Stefan's love is overshadowed by his ambition to be
king, and Maleficent becomes protector of the Moors.
When King Henry tries to conquer the Moors, Maleficent mortally wounds him, forcing
his retreat. As he lies dying, he declares that whoever kills Maleficent will be named his
successor and marry his daughter. Stefan calls on Maleficent in the Moors; he drugs her, but
cannot bring himself to kill her. Instead, he amputates her wings, presents them to Henry as
'proof' of Maleficent's death, and is named the new King. While still processing the betrayal,
Maleficent turns Diaval, a trapped raven, into a human, frightening away his captors. He
promises to serve her, and brings her news of the humans. Infuriated when she learns why
her wings were taken, Maleficent, and the Moors she controls, become bitter and dark.
After some time, Diaval informs Maleficent that King Stefan's newborn daughter,
Aurora, is being christened. Maleficent arrives uninvited and curses the infant princess; on
her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into an
eternal sleep. Maleficent mocks Stefan's plea for mercy, but offers an antidote; the curse can
be broken by true love's kiss, something she and Stefan both believe does not exist.
Stefan orders three pixie-fairies to hide and protect Aurora until the day after her 16th
birthday and destroys every spinning wheel in the kingdom, hiding their remnants in the
castle dungeon. Stefan sends his armies to find and kill Maleficent, but she surrounds the
Moors with an impenetrable wall of thorns, protecting it. Over the years, Stefan obsesses over
killing Maleficent and gradually loses his sanity, even refusing to see his own wife on her
deathbed.
Maleficent and Diaval watch Aurora grow from afar and secretly begin to take over
Aurora's care from the bumbling and neglectful pixies. After encountering Maleficent face-
to-face several times, Aurora names Maleficent "fairy godmother". Maleficent realizes she
hasn't the heart to hurt Aurora, and privately attempts to revoke the curse, forgetting that
she stated "no power on earth" can revoke it. Meanwhile, in the forest, Aurora meets a young
Prince Phillip, and both are mildly attracted to each other.
On the day before Aurora's 16th birthday, Aurora gains Maleficent's permission to live
in the Moors. When Aurora informs the pixies of this, they reveal the truth about Aurora's
lineage and the curse. Angrily accusing Maleficent of being evil, Aurora runs to her father's
castle. Instead of welcoming Aurora, Stefan locks her in a room while plotting to kill
Maleficent. The curse's power draws Aurora to the dungeon, where she pricks her finger on
a spindle and falls into a deep sleep. Maleficent, intent on saving her, abducts Phillip and
infiltrates Stefan's castle. The pixies encourage the reluctant Phillip to kiss Aurora, but this
does not wake her. After Philip leaves, Maleficent tearfully apologizes to Aurora and kisses
her on the forehead. This unexpectedly awakens Aurora, as Maleficent truly feels maternal
love for her.
As Maleficent and Aurora attempt to leave, Stefan and his guards ambush them.
Maleficent transforms Diaval into a dragon to help her, but both are subdued. Meanwhile,
Aurora finds Maleficent's caged wings and releases them. They fly to Maleficent and reattach
themselves, but Stefan continues fighting. Maleficent carries him to the top of the highest
tower; unwilling to kill him, she announces the fight is over and tries to leave him there. He
tackles her from behind, dragging them both off the tower. Maleficent opens her wings to
save herself, causing Stefan to lose hold and fall to his death.
With King Stefan gone, Maleficent returns the Moors to its former glory, and gives
away her position to Aurora, who is crowned queen of the Moors, uniting the two kingdoms.
Phillip also comes to visit them.
