"Christina! Christina!"

The hybrid's eyes snapped open a faint scowl on her face. Stifling a yawn she worked to untangle herself from her quilt.

"Shaggy-" she started to tell him off for interrupting a good nap.

"Your wall, like, someone's there,"

Now she was on high alert! Hunters? Humans? Whatever the threat was she would undoubtedly crush it! Whistling for Spitfire, she jumped the stairs, landing atop his back. Once outdoors the dragon took to the skies, Christina clinging tightly to him. The wall rose to meet them, tall and imposing against the blue skies. Sliding from Spitfire's back she found Shaggy waiting for her.

"You ran all the way here?" Christina noted, arching an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah,"

"Let's see what we're dealing with here,"

The wall parted and Shaggy fainted upon seeing who was there.

"Hello, Christina," Maleficent smiled, "Do you know who I am?"

"My grandmother," Christina deadpanned, "the pixies know a lot,"

"May I come in?"

"I suppose," Christina replied dismissively, turning on her heel, "Flint, help Shaggy please,"

The dragon dove from his perch, picking up the unconscious teen and placing him on his back before carrying him back to Christina's home.

"If you know about me then you know of your inheritance?" Maleficent questioned, following her granddaughter inside the large castle.

"Yes,"

"You know why I've come then?"

"Because my uncle can't just leave me alone and they think dragging me to another realm will help with my 'problems'," Christina snarked, "I don't need help. I just need to be left alone,"

Shaggy was starting to wake. Noticing this, Christina moved closer ready to clamp her hand over His mouth in case he screamed which he did.

"Shh," she told him, "I don't want to deal with angry dragons right now and trust me they'll be very angry if you wake them, got it?"

He nodded.

"Good,"

Slowly, she eased her hand away. Keeping quiet, Shaggy ducked behind her, peering over her shoulder to watch Maleficent.

"While I find your fear amusing, Shaggy", the elder dark fae chuckled, "You are more than you appear. As is your friend."

Maleficent then spun her cloak dramatically, revealing a certain large, brown dog who tumbled forward toward Shaggy.

"Raggy!", Scooby cried, scrambling over to tackle him and lick his face.

"Scoob! I like, missed you, pal!"

It's only been a few hours Christina thought with a small barely-there smile.

"Where are we, Raggy? Rand how did I...,.RIKES!", Scooby yelped upon seeing Maleficent and jumped into Shaggy's arms.

"Calm down, guys", Christina told them. "My grandma won't hurt you, I promise."

"Indeed", Maleficent chuckled. "While to most you both appear to be nothing more than gluttonous cowards, you possess true courage and loyalty to those who have earned your friendship or...Ah, now I see", she smirked knowingly, having gazed into their hearts.

"Why are you here, Grandmother?", Christina asked impatiently. "You ignored me my whole life, so why are you really here now?"

"So much like your mother, my dear. I stayed away because it was your mother's wish. I and your uncle were trying to honor her wish for you to have a 'normal' childhood. I was to leave you alone and never darken your door unless you truly needed my help or your aunt and cousin both proved unworthy to succeed my throne. It seems all three are true. I swear by every shade in the Pit, that the one who maimed you will pay dearly! But first, I can help you regain what was taken from you, my dear, just as I did."

"Impossible", Christina replied darkly, a tear rolling down her cheek. "My wings were destroyed. There is no re-attaching them if they're gone forever."

"Like, is that the pain you've been carrying all this time, Christina?", Shaggy asked with compassion, pulling her into his arms. "You lost your wings?"

"I didn't lose them! THEY WERE TAKEN FROM ME AND DESTROYED RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES!", she cried, the floodgates finally opening.

Christina quickly composed herself, still, tears slipped down her face as she tried to explain.

"I was out on a walk one night, couldn't sleep, somewhere along that path I was knocked out and abducted. The next three days..." she faltered, "I was beaten bloody, when I wouldn't submit, wouldn't follow his orders, he hacked my wings off and cut them up until dust was all that remained. He left and I was so angry, boiling. I transformed and incinerated him. I hadn't meant to kill him! I just wanted to get away, return home. But I was so deep in the woods I must have spun myself in circles. Eventually, I found a pond but when I saw these," she tapped one of her horns, "I cried until I passed out,"

Maleficent was barely able to keep a lid on the rage that boiled within her but managed to keep calm as she said:

"All is not lost, Christina", the elder fae told her. "I can help you unlock you full power; the legacy of the Dragonmark you bear. And when you do, you will gain new wings; stronger and more magnificent than those of your birth."

Christina shook her head in disbelief. There was no way after the year she had gone through. No way she could fly but she found herself asking how.

"By mastering your power, learning it's full potential,"

"I know there's a 'but' there's always a catch,"

"Your Uncle wants you to return to his castle,"

"No, not happening!"

"I figured as much," Maleficent nodded.

"So you'll go back to ignoring me then?"

"Never," Maleficent swore, "I'm still going to teach you."

"But Dracula will like-"

"He won't interfere, not if he wishes to remain in one piece,"

"What about school?"

"I think it's best if Christina stays away from there, I saw the video,"

Shaggy had a feeling Christina's attackers wouldn't be able to walk for very much longer.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Maleficent took her leave, promising to return first thing tomorrow. Silence followed her departure as Shaggy tried to process the information while Christina tried to ignore it.

"I should get you, boys, home," she finally declared.

"We don't have to go just yet," Shaggy replied.

"Why not?"

"I don't want to," Shaggy declared, "Not right now,"

"If you think I'm going to talk-"

"I promise I like, won't make you but I'm your friend and friends hang out don't they?"

Christina rolled her eyes, "I guess,"

…...

While Scooby was caught up in a game of hide and seek with some pixes Shaggy and Christina went on a walk.

"I see your legs are healing," Shaggy commented.

"How can you tell?" Christina questioned.

"Your staff," Shaggy gestured to the object Christina carried with her, "Like, you don't lean on it like you did yesterday,"

"Fairies heal quickly,"

"Interesting,"

"Not really," Christina shrugged.

"Thank you for saving me today,"

"No problem, they make me mad,"

"I understand,"

"Do you though? I've been pushed around my whole life. It isn't a cake-walk,"

"So have I," Shaggy admitted, "I didn't fit with anyone other than the gang. Now I'm like, not sure,"

"I'm sure they're just shocked,"

"I hope,"

"For your sake so do I,"