The Third Gift
By the March Hare

With a flash of emerald fire and smoke, Maleficent, the mistress of all evil, had gone, leaving behind a very shaken and frightened court. Flora felt fear in her heart, a deep despair at the knowledge that the poor princess, barely a few days old, had been cursed to death. Searching for a way to help, it occurred to her that Merryweather had yet had the chance to give her blessing.

"Don't despair, your majesty." Flora said, encouragingly to King Stephen. "Merryweather still has her gift to give!"

"Then she can undo this fearful curse?" The poor king's voice near broke in pain and hope.

"Oh, no, your sire," Merryweather shocked at such a statement.

"Maleficent's powers are far too great!" Flora explained.

"But she can help!" Fauna chimed in.

The girls pushed Merryweather, who was quite unsure, forward to the cradle.

"But-, "Merryweather tried to argue.

"Just do your best, dear." Fauna implored.

"Yes, go on." Flora supported.

Merryweather took a deep breath. Looking inside, she found the cherubic face of an angel, asleep despite all the troubles in the world. She was beautiful, and would only grow more so. One day she would sing, and the birds would bow in reverence. What gift could she give, that could save this little angel's life from that wicked old Maleficent?

Then, it occured to her.

16 years later…

Maleficent watched hungrily as the weak, frail, little princess Aurora climbed the stairs, hypnotized by her god-like powers! Step-by-step, into her inevitable doom she rose, entering the chamber where the spinning wheel stood. Even now, the mewling good fairies were too late to stop her! Too late!

Extending her hand, Aurora began to reach for the spindle.

"Rose, don't touch anything!" was the cry of the fairies. Aurora jerked back, love for a moment overpowering the Mistress of All Evil.

"Touch it! Touch it, I say!" Maleficent commanded!

She began to reach for it again.

Slowly, by inches, centimeters, millimeters, her finger got closer…

And then, a confused look crossed Aurora's face. She looked around for a moment, and Maleficent realized the hypnotized look was gone, permanently.

"What am I doing in a musty, old tower? And why would I want to touch the spindle of a spinning wheel. That is just plain stupid! This is waste of time and time is never to be wasted!" Aurora exclaimed to herself. "I have to finish my trigonometric thesis paper to present to the Royal College of Science! Plus," she added, "I have to begin researching into political science to prepare for my coronation! Training to be a future queen is a massive undertaking!" She said as she turned around, and trotted down the stairs, muttering about Plato and the ways to turn lead into gold all the way down.

And with that, Aurora was gone.

Maleficent stood, mouth agape, as she tried to comprehend just how she was just beaten. Then, it hit her.

Smacking herself on the forehead, she realized the very thing she had missed.

"The third gift! The gift of brains!"

First attempt at a parody, so I will be glad to take all the critiques you have. I am not an Aurora basher, quite the opposite in fact, but I thought it was too funny an idea to pass.

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!