That Old Black Magic (Grimhilde)

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“Yes, that would be nice,” Maleficent mused. “You have a good point, Grimhilde – even if we’re careful, there’s always the chance that someone will still stumble upon us out here. Then what would we do?”

Maleficent doubted that news of the secret war would be well-received by this world’s inhabitants, particularly considering that those fighting in it weren’t thought to be real. She was equally certain that they had no plan in place for that situation, and that wasn’t even taking into account how their enemies would respond.

The fairy lightly tapped her cheek, a thoughtful expression coming over her face. After a moment of contemplation, her eyes brightened.

“Perhaps we could construct a training spot for ourselves, down beneath the house. We could use our magic to help us and there wouldn’t be any chance of us getting caught.”

Maleficent turned to Grimhilde as she spoke, waiting for her opinion.

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded.

"Then it's settled. We construct something at the house. Perhaps the basement. We don't seem to use it much." said Grimhilde.

She paused turning to Maleficent.

"How much magic would you think we need to create that? There's very few magical members in this army. My magic is mostly in potions designed for destruction or poison. I have branched out to other ideas but I don't think I c could create something like that. And I think your magic is similar correct? Perhaps we'd have to build a training area from scratch." said Grimhilde.

Grimhilde didn't want to offend her. But just restoring these trees seem to take it out of her. Grimhilde wasn't sure if building something with magic was what Maleficent could do. But if she was wrong she'd admit it and apologize.

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This was true. In fact, Maleficent couldn’t recall ever having gone in the basement in all the time she had been here. Provided nothing of vital importance was being stored down there, it would be perfect.

“How much magic would you think we need to create that?”

“I don’t think we would need a particularly large amount,” Maleficent remarked, “provided we pooled our magic together. If that were to fail, we could always have it built the old-fashioned way.”

The fairy hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Physically building a training area would take up quite a bit of time and effort, and in the meantime, they would still be stuck with their current dilemma.

“Were our other magical comrades to pool their magic with ours as I said, I don’t think either of us would stand a risk of being drained of much energy. We may need more of your restoration potions before the project’s complete, however.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded.

"That makes sense. Although there are fewer of us with magic here. There are too many in the other armies. It doesn't matter if they're one army or two they are still powerful threats. Although I wish they'd destroy each other, but we wouldn't be that lucky." said Grimhilde.

She chuckled at the thought. War never ended as easily as that.

"Perhaps they is another way. There are more people who use science here in this army. Perhaps there's a way to use magic and science to build what we need. It would go faster and prevent us from wearing ourselves out too much. Even with these potions, I can only brew so much at a time." said Grimhilde.

Using magic and science she doubted had been done much before. And might be risky but it would be worth it. If they could find the right way to do it.

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“That is true,” Maleficent noted reluctantly. “I think it’s just myself, you, and that genie of yours. Ask ThatGuy and Facilier are overrun with magical beings.”

“I wish they'd destroy each other but we wouldn't be that lucky.”

Maleficent got a laugh out of that.

“Oh if only if was that simple.” The dark fairy paused, looking thoughtful. “Perhaps it could be that simple.” She nodded. “Yes, I think we could do it.”

Before Maleficent could elaborate, Grimhilde suggested finding some way of combining science and magic to help build their training area.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing being done before. However, science is not nearly so advanced where I come from. Considering all that it can do in this world and others, I’m sure it can be done.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded.

"There is that Linkara person. He's been able to turn a bunch of toys into the actual weapons and he has a magical gun as well. Not to mention several of the villains in Facilier and Ask That Guy's armies are his including Mechakara's. If a man like Linkara can defeat Mechakara repeatedly he's certainly good with his magic and weapons." said Grimhilde.

She paused knowing the four of them were the only experts at magic as well as having powers. They needed more help.

"Perhaps we should find a way to teach the others here. At least my potions. In case I'm hurt or captured again. My potions have come in handy and with more magical beings it could balance out some. What do you think?" said Grimhilde.

She paused as Maleficent said she hadn't heard of blending magic and science before but it could work.

"I guess it's worth a try. If it doesn't work we can go back to just magic or build it ourselves the normal way." said Grimhilde.

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“Ah yes,” Maleficent mused. “Linkara.”

The dark fairy had nearly forgotten about the comic reviewer. Most likely because she hadn’t spoken to him in some time. She found that a bit strange, since they seemed to have been almost friendly prior to the month’s changing.

“Perhaps we should find a way to teach the others here. At least my potions. In case I'm hurt or captured again. My potions have come in handy and with more magical beings it could balance out some. What do you think?”

Maleficent winced slightly at the mention of Grimhilde being injured or captured again, but answered the question nonetheless.

“Well, it’s highly unlikely that anyone here will be able to learn magic, unless it’s in their blood already. Jasmine’s already come to me asking about that. However, teaching them how to brew your potions would be a useful trick.”

As much as the dark fairy didn’t want to think about it, the odds were good that something was going to happen to Grimhilde again before this conflict was over, and they needed a backup in case it did.

“And in the meantime,” Maleficent noted, an edge of slyness in her voice, “we could figure out how to get Ask ThatGuy and Facilier to destroy each other. I’ve already got an idea.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded glad she remembered Linkara as well. Maleficent was silent until she saw her wince when Grimhilde mentioned her capture and injuries. Then Maleficent spoke as Grimhilde listened.

"Yes. I don't plan on anything happening to me. But we can't guarantee anything in this war. Having some others trained to use this could help." said Grimhilde.

She paused as she mentioned magic had to be in their blood for them to use it.

"I suppose it must be in Linkara's blood. Either that or the rules are different in this universe." said Grimhilde.

She paused again thinking. She grinned looking at her.

"Perhaps we could get a magic team together the two of us, Linkara, and everyone we teach my potion magic too. We have a science team. We really need a magic one too." said Grimhilde.

She looked at Maleficent in surprise as she mentioned she figured out a wy to get them to destroy each other.

"What's your idea?" asked Grimhilde.

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“That might be it, yes,” Maleficent remarked. “Doesn’t he use magical artifacts?”

The more accurate term would have been “toys based off of magical artifacts”, but Maleficent really didn’t feel like splitting hairs at the moment.

“Perhaps we could get a magic team together the two of us, Linkara, and everyone we teach my potion magic too. We have a science team. We really need a magic one too.”

“A magic team?” Maleficent echoed. “Well, it sounds interesting. Who do you propose we teach to brew your potions for this team? Anyone who’s wants to learn?”

Next Grimhilde asked about her idea. The dark fairy couldn’t help smirking slightly. She had been waiting for this question.

“It’s a simple idea, in all honesty, but I think it could be quite effective if done properly. The most crucial point is that our identities have to be disguised somehow – I believe you were able to alter your appearance completely with one of your potions, yes? Perhaps we could use something like that. Anyhow, once we’ve disguised ourselves, we organize attacks on the other armies, framing the other for each attack. It wouldn’t get us out of their target range completely, of course, but if nothing else it will give us some time to recover and prepare for something greater.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nods.

"He uses artifacts but he can also cast spells. And I don't think normal people could cast spells in this universe. So he has to have some magic in him. Perhaps something similar to me when I make potions. It's not as strong as someone like you since you are a fairy after all. But I think he could be similar to me perhaps." said Grimhilde.

She nodded at Maleficent's question.

"Yes. I think if we get enough volunteers it could be useful. The more people who know how to make my potions the better. You know there's another thing I've been wondering. Protection." said Grimhilde.

She paused looking at her curiously.

"I know you once summoned a forest of thorns around King Stefan's castle. Thanks to the enchanted sword he had he was able to make it threw. But clearly all their security and science things aren't working as we keep getting attacked and getting hurt or kidnapped in our own base. Perhaps it's time we thought of using magic to shield this house from attack. Or would something like that require more sorcerers or an enchanted object?" asked Grimhilde.

She then listened to Maleficent's idea of disguising themselves and making the two armies fight each other.

"What a wonderful idea. Although we should make sure to not alert them to it. Magical members like Facilier and Hades might be able to reverse our disguise if they suspect something." said Grimhilde.

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Protection. Maleficent took a moment to consider Grimhilde’s suggestion. The queen had made a valid point – their army seemed to be the most plagued by kidnappings and attacks on their base.

“The most effective shield against such things would be my thorns, which unfortunately are rather conspicuous, especially in this world.” The dark fairy’s next words might have sounded sheepish were she capable of expressing such an emotion. “I must admit, I never needed to shield myself from enemy attacks before. My presence alone was a big enough detractor.”

Listening to Grimhilde’s praise, Maleficent felt herself begin to smirk. “Thank you, my friend.” When she mentioned not alerting the other magic users, the dark fairy added, “Yes, I had considered that beforehand. I think the answer will lie with our reviewer allies. They seem to be familiar with just about everyone that’s entered this conflict thus far. We could get them to give us information on how our enemies normally behave – speech patterns, gestures, that sort of thing - to make it more accurate.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded.

"Hmm. That's true. How about something simpler? Like something similar to those forcefield they create? Like a magical barrier? And it would just keep out people not in this army. And if a civilian wandered it we could allow them in. Like we make sure the spell would allow us to let people in like civilians temporarily or people leaving the other armies. Like Goggles, Nella, Michelangelo and Raphael did for example." said Grimhilde.

She paused listening to her and grinned as Maleficent seemed to smirk at her praise and she was glad for that.

"True. Critic and his pals should know enough about them to help us. I think you or Willie should be the ones disguising yourselves as magical beings to make it look good. The rest of us could disguise ourselves as the non powered ones. If say Critic disguised himself as Facilier but didn't use any magic people might suspect something." said Grimhilde.

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“That sounds like it could work,” Maleficent mused. “I’ve never attempted it myself, so I’m not sure how much energy it would take. It would probably be faster with other magic users to cast it with me.”

She listened to Grimhilde’s input and before long was nodding in agreement.

“That’s true. We’d need to figure out who matches up best with members of the opposing armies skills and appearance-wise for this to work. Otherwise they’ll see right through us.”

The dark fairy took a moment to examine her restoration work one more time before turning in the direction of the house. She paused to look over her shoulder at Grimhilde.

“Why don’t we go ask Critic and the others for the information we need?”