A Little Hocus Pocus

[Ma-Ti]

(January 23rd. Closed to Ma-Ti, Critic, and Maleficent. Mid-Morning.)

Ma-Ti sat in the living room waiting for Critic and Maleficent to show up. Chick had given him the ring in a box so he could hold it without burning himself. She was now sleeping upstairs. And Iheart last he heard was sleeping as well. They'd been so busy that night with the rescue and everyone was exhausted from fighting. And yesterday everyone was busy meeting a new recruit, and training. Besides he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone much yesterday anyway. Maybe today Maleficent could help him use his ring and hopefully fix anything else wrong with him that Facilier might have done to him.

[Deleted]

Anyone who happened to look at Maleficent that morning would immediately realize that there was something different about her. The change was not an extremely overt one, but the faint smile on her face couldn’t be ignored, particularly when you stopped to consider who it belonged to.

And why shouldn’t she be happy? Just hours before, after who knows how long, the dark fairy had been reunited with Diablo, her precious pet raven. With her oldest friend returned to her and Patch back safe and sound, it seemed as though nothing, not even her illness, could cloud Maleficent’s mood.

She was just passing through the living room on her way back to her own sleeping quarters when she saw Ma-Ti sitting by himself on the couch. Under normal circumstances, Maleficent would have ignored him and continued on her way, but as she was feeling unusually happy at the moment, so she went over to speak to him.

“What’s that you’ve got?” she inquired, gesturing to the ring box. Not that she particularly cared – it was simply an attempt at making conversation.

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti looked up as Maleficent walked in. He smiled glad to see her. When she asked about the box he set it down and opened it revealing the Ring of Heart.

"It's my ring. But I can't use it. You remember when I lost my memories right? Well I met someone who helped me get them back. He tricked me into giving Goggles a ring that gave her powers and she switched sides. But I think he cursed me when he did that. Because every time I try to touch my ring I get burned. It won't even let me hold it and if I can't hold it I can't use it. I was hoping to find you today. I want to know if you can help remove what Facilier did to me. Critic and Chick have used this ring but they've both gotten hurt using it. I don't want them to be targeted cause of my ring." said Ma-Ti.

He paused glancing at her hoping she'd help if she could.

"Would you help me Maleficent? Please." asked Ma-Ti.

[Nostalgia Critic]

Ironically enough Critic was in the exact opposite mood. He wasn't happy but rather feeling bad for Ma-Ti. He just got the ring back but what happens? He could not shake the guilt coming from him. He went downstairs deciding to apoligize to the boy when suddenly both maleficent and Ma-Ti were in the living room. He heard the quick conversation the two had and replied coming over "Yeah. Something Facilier did is causing ma-ti not to use it. We don't know what it is but maybe you do. Is it possible you can help him?"

[Deleted]

Maleficent’s smile faded at the request, gold eyes narrowing in thought. She remembered the ring – weeks ago, she had tried to hold the ring in order to get a better understanding of its power and been burnt by it. From that, she had deduced that the ring’s magic was too pure for her – the self-proclaimed Mistress of All Evil – to come into contact with. Now, it seemed to be having the opposite effect on Ma-Ti.

“Oh dear, what an awkward situation,” the dark fairy quipped, smirking slightly. She sobered after a second and continued, “From the sound of it, the ring has been infected with dark magic. However, I would have to examine it to be absolutely certain.”

She was careful not to make a commitment one way or the other as far as helping Ma-Ti went. First she would have to gauge how much self-sacrifice it would take from her, as well as whether or not it was worth it.

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti nodded handing the box to her with the ring still inside it.

"The box was made by Dr. Linksano. It should shield its effects from you just like it does to me. Do you think you can remove what Facilier has done? This is a powerful weapon and we need al lthe help we can get in stopping them." said Ma-Ti.

[Nostalgia Critic]

"I'm sure she can Ma-Ti. Thank you Maleficent. I'm glad you're willing to help him" Critic responded calmly, honestly relieved Maleficent was intending to try and help Ma-Ti's problem. He only hoped she could lift it or find a answer to something that could lift it. Critic turned to Ma-Ti and responded "Don't worry Ma-Ti. It'll be on your finger before you even know it!"

[Deleted]

Maleficent opened the ring box and there it was, sitting there as innocently as was possible for an inanimate object. Dark energy rolled off of it in waves. Compelled by this, Maleficent reached out to touch it, her body braced for another burning sensation.

It never came.

Blinking in surprise, the dark fairy pulled the ring from the box before tossing it (the box, not the ring) to the couch. The ring was cool to the touch – no doubt a result of Dr. Facilier’s dark magic. While it was in this state, she might even be able to use it.

It was becoming increasingly clear to Maleficent what would need to be done to allow Ma-Ti to use his precious ring again – she would have to use light magic to drain the dark magic and replace it with good. While it theoretically was possible – she was still a fairy, after all, and all fairies had (though in her case faint) traces of light magic – the idea wasn’t an appealing one. Because of her status as a dark fairy, the use of light magic, even in small amounts, rendered her weak.

“And when did I say I would help you?” she inquired silkily, gold eyes looking back at Ma-Ti and Critic. A familiar smirk had come across her pale green face. “What would you do for me in return?”

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti watched as she took the ring and examined it. She even held the ring. He frowned realizing another person could hold it while he couldn't. He gasped in surprise when she said she never actually said she'd help before asking for something.

"That ring's the only thing valuable I have and I can't give it away as I want to use it. What would you want to fix my ring?" asked Ma-Ti.

She was a powerful sorceress. He knew he could refuse but there was no guarantee that curse would stop Maleficent, Critic, or Chick from using it one day. He had to get rid of it quick.

[Nostalgia Critic]

Critic frowned. How could he pay back? He had nothing to offer. He then realized maybe he would allow maleficent to ask a favor in the future. He turned to the mistress and asked "What if you had me do a favor for you back in the future? I don't have anything now but whenever you wished and whatever you want, I would do it. I could fix my review of you... I could uh, make Linkara find something powerful for you. Anything"

He wanted to help ma-ti so he found this best to say something. He breathed sadly "Please. Let me pay whatever debt is needed. Ma-Ti deserves to use this ring, he had it in his possession for years. Facilier made him not use it for god knows what, for all we know Facilier could be attempting to use something againest the army and this is a sign"

[Deleted]

Foolish boy, Maleficent thought, shaking her head as though disappointed in Ma-Ti. How could he ask a favor from someone such as herself without bringing something to the table in return? Now he had no way to guarantee her assistance.

In the end, it was Critic who said the magic word: favor. Intrigued, Maleficent turned her attention to him now, her smirk fixed firmly in place. The poor man didn’t know what he was getting himself into.

“That will do,” she said smoothly, a new gleam entering her golden eyes. “A favor from you to me. Any favor, to be called in whenever I choose.”

The dark fairy held her slender, green hand out to shake the Critic’s.

“Do we have an accord?”

[Nostalgia Critic]

Critic smiled pleased she was willing to help now that she would have something in return. Then came her hand. Critic knew this was a very big risk and knew whatever she gave out to him, he would have to do. He had no choice. He could refuse but that would not help Ma-Ti and Critic wanted to give Ma-Ti the friendship he was belated to. Critic calmly shook hands and responded "Yes. We have a accord"

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti smiled seeing Maleficent and Critic had arranged a deal. Soon his ring would be fixed and he'd be of some use. He just hoped it didn't take her too long to remove whatever Facilier put on the ring.

[Nostalgia Critic]

Critic had a bad feeling about this, at the same time he knew he couldn't refuse a opportunity that maleficent could offer. She was powerful and being on their side was the luckiest thing so he needed to use it as much as he could. Critic turned to Ma-Ti assuringly then stopped shaking Maleficent's hand after a while and simply allowed her to speak first.

[Deleted]

“Good.”

Maleficent’s face broke into a cold, satisfied smile. The faintest of chuckles escaped her. This day just got better and better.

You’re mine now, Critic.

Without another word to either male, the dark fairy turned her attention to the ring and carefully set it down on the table and placing her staff over it. She took a deep breath, and the ritual began.

Her lips had barely formed the first word when the ring began to glow, a pale green not unlike the shade of her own skin. The longer and louder she spoke, the stronger the light became until it hurt to look at directly. A transparent black mist oozed out of the ring, and it was at this point Maleficent felt herself begin to grow weary. Regardless, she continued chanting the spell, over and over until the mist stopped coming. By this time, it was coiled like a snake above the ring and hovered there for a second or two before simply evaporating.

Maleficent had just enough time to think Wasted magic before collapsing onto the couch, exhausted.