Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Naruto, Disney or any of its affiliated properties. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this now would I?
"The connection of our hearts…" : Speech (Bold for yelling ,Bijuu, or massive creatures)
'The connection of our hearts…' : Thought
Woodcutter's shack, Aurora's room…
It had been an hour since the party was called off after Aurora (it was strange learning that her old name was actually a pseudonym all this time – even calling herself Aurora in her own mind felt weird) stormed off to her room. Upon being told that she had no choice in whom she could love and that her life choices were already made for her, she was quite frustrated – understandable when one considered thae fact that until a few hours ago, she was under the impression that she was just some peasant who had some very interesting friends living near her family in the forest. As an adult (in the eyes of society at least), she believed that she was long overdue for a grand reveal of what she wanted for the rest of her life or rather whom she wanted to have at her side.
Aurora didn't want to stay in the seemingly never ending forest for her whole life but she also didn't want her only time leaving it to be a transfer to another 'prison' so to speak. At the bare minimum, the forest offered a lot of distractions and means to improve oneself – the royal life just sounded like a gilded cage (it was pretty and sounded nice but a prison was a prison, no matter the embellishments added). This was especially apparent with the upbringing she had – if the fairies had their way, the poor girl would have been isolated from any real human contact for her entire childhood, forced to seek companionship in the local fauna. This would have made her starved for any real friendship and with a dash of hormones from puberty, the poor girl would have fallen in love with any passable human male to even have the slightest interest in her and her hobbies.
Unfortunately for the grand scheme planned out by the fairy sisters, their own plan was foiled by their own family member. Not only was Naruto a competent man, he was also a magical being in his right, powerful enough to have a significant sway in how his adoptive sister/ward was raised, despite the complaints from his mothers. As Aurora grew, he provided her with the positive male role model (and nipped any potential daddy issues in the bud – he wasn't her father but her cool older brother!) and together with his lovers, gave the girl a wealth of knowledge and exposure to the vastness of the world - particularly, what it had to offer a blossoming youth like her.
Ergo, it should come as no big surprise that as the years passed, Aurora began nursing a growing crush on her 'brother' (he did make sure to explain that her aunts were actually his adoptive mothers, somehow finding a kindred spirit in her given that she was technically adopted too – just for only sixteen years though) that later became love. At first, she was disgusted with herself for falling for a man who practically raised her, even if he was seemingly ageless just like his lovers. As the years went by though, she found fewer and fewer reasons to actually reject the idea of being with him (even in her own mind). When she was old enough to understand love and all the wonderful things that puberty would bring with it, Naruto was quick to direct her to Snow and Ella, who were delighted to help Aurora understand herself in those turbulent times. Alice, Tiger and Wendy (who by this time had already aged into an adult as well) also recognized the particular dilemma the girl had regarding their man and took her aside to explain just how they got together with Naruto themselves. While they did compliment the man a lot, they also didn't sugarcoat the reality of what it meant to love him – they told her a simpler version of the grand quest they were on, minus the part about the Grimm Lords and the multiverse.
So Aurora made up her mind that once she came of age, she would confess to Naruto and join his little family as well. However those plans were dashed to the ground when her 'aunts' revealed their true agenda, which basically made her out to be a bargaining chip to unite two kingdoms (especially since they so kindly forgot to mention that she was cursed by a literal Mistress of Evil – she didn't even know the reason why she was kept in the forest in the first place). Furious with them, she locked herself in her room and after a brief period of letting angry tears run down her face, she was now looking out of her bedroom window despondently, wondering how she would get out of this mess (she even forgot that the man she met in the forest today was to visit her home later tonight).
"Oh, what am I to do? My hands are tied and I find myself fighting my heart to fulfill the 'duties' set before me…" She moaned as she put her face in her hands. While she was doing that though, she missed a familiar blue fairy flying into her room before he landed on her window sill.
"Well Aurora, it's a simple question – you only get to live once. Do you believe in what you must do? Any action lacking conviction is a waste of precious time and the best way to live is when desires and purpose combine…~" Naruto said as Aurora gasped in surprise, looking up to see Naruto fluttering in front of her with a warm smile before he 're-sized' himself in a flash of azure light.
Quickly rushing over to him, she gave him a strong hug, nuzzling into his warm chest and luxuriating in his warmth and scent, pleasant shudders running down her spine as he laughed and pulled her close to him as well.
"Naruto! You're here! I thought your mothers didn't want you visiting me anymore?" She said, remembering Flora saying something to that effect after the party was cancelled(she wasn't eavesdropping – it wasn't her fault if that old lady couldn't help but yell when she got agitated).
"Heh- you know I don't really care what they say anymore! I love them to bits but they are capable of making stupid decisions just like the rest of use after all. I mean, that's why I came here – there's something else you need to know…" Naruto said as he walked over to Aurora's bed, the girl looking at him curiously.
What followed was a horrifying tale of the true nature of her existence, that she was cursed to fall into an eternal slumber if the right conditions were met and that the person responsible was yet another aunt of hers.
"S-so what you're saying is that Maleficent might try and find me before this day is over?" She said, trembling in fear as she thought about just how much power the dark fairy might have at her command (to hear Naruto talk about it, she made Grimhilde look like a white mage in alignment and power levels since the fairy literally had an unlimited reign over all things diabolic).
"Yeah – but don't worry. Despite her power, I can fight her back if need be. However, I think the both of us know a confrontation like that would devastate the entire land and we both don't want that. She'll probably try to be sly about the whole thing and that's where my gift to you comes into play." Naruto said, watching as Aurora looked down to her necklace, the gemstones on it glowing faintly in the late afternoon light.
"I remember you saying that Grimhilde, Ella and you infused your magic into it but how will that help me?" She asked as Naruto smirked before explaining the situation.
Aurora's curse had been weakened from a fatal curse to a curse of eternal sleep – this meant that her body would have be in a magically induced coma as all her biological functions would effectively be in a form of stasis. However, the magic inducing this would be a mix of light and dark magic (from the fairy sisters), meaning that a change in the delicate balance would break the spell outright. Maleficent's magic wanted to kill her and her aunts' magic would preserve her – the tenuous balance reached only had the power to sustain this stalemate. However, the necklace Aurora now wore had its own light and dark magic sources – this in combination with Naruto's improvised 'moonstone' acting as a battery (it was a sapphire stuffed to the brim with chakra and blue pixie dust after all) meant that once the magic reserves in the necklace were triggered, they would flush out any other magic affecting Aurora.
After Naruto finished his long winded explanation, he had to hold in a laugh at Aurora's flabbergasted expression.
"Close your mouth Aurora – you wouldn't want to catch any flies with it now would you?" He said as Aurora came to her senses before looking at him in awe.
"Wow Naruto, I had no idea you were this smart! I always thought you were a simpler fellow, no offense…" She said as Naruto waved her off.
"No problem – it comes with experience. While I might not know as much as Grimhilde or Ella, I have been using my powers for over fifty years you know – if I didn't understand how it worked by now, I'd be worried for myself as well!" Naruto said with an expression of mock fear at the end, hiding a small smile as he noticed the stressed girl in front of him burst into a fit of giggles.
"Thanks Naruto, I needed that. Y-you're always looking out for me aren't you?" She said, a rosy blush on her face as Naruto looked away, slightly embarrassed with the warm look directed at him as he looked away, scratching his cheek.
"Yeah – I mean, I wouldn't be much of a big brother if I didn't want the best for my little sis' right?" He said before he jolted in surprise as he felt a pair of warm lips pressed against his cheek, almost at the corner of his lips before Aurora pulled away.
"You know Naruto, I love our dynamic and everything, but perhaps you shouldn't call me your little sister anymore. After all, I don't think a sister would kiss her brother like that would she?" She said as she put a finger on her rosy lips, biting the nail seductively as Naruto gaped at her sass.
However, just before things got interesting, Naruto had to skedaddle as he could hear his mothers walking up to Aurora's room to take her to the castle.
Timeskip, a few minutes before sunset, the princess' chamber…
Aurora was quickly whisked away to King Stefan's castle just as the afternoon was beginning to give way to dusk. Upon arriving, she was promptly introduced to her parents – Stefan was a classic doting father and her mother Leah pulled her in for a tearful hug before the two adults had the three fairy sisters take her to her room in the castle. She also spotted King Hubert, her future father in law – however, she didn't talk to him much, seeing as unnecessary (she wasn't going to marry his son after all…).
Now alone in her room, she was at a loss at what to do – everything was so fancy and she was more than a little overwhelmed at all the glitz and glamour. She didn't have to wait for a distraction though, as her room was suddenly plunged into darkness as the only thing she could see was this tall statuesque lady making her way over to her.
She was instantly bewitched by the new arrival, her emerald eyes riveting her feet to where she stood with their reptilian allure. So deep her trance, she barely responded as Maleficent sauntered over to her, the dark fairy towering over the hapless girl.
"Tut tut…all that work and my sisters fumble the ball at the last minute. Look at you at my mercy now – truly, it is a shame to kill such a beautiful creature…I guess I will have to settle for putting you to sleep as a pretty doll for me to admire…~" She said, running her long and cold fingers over Aurora's expressionless face, lingering a little on her full lips before stroking her chin.
"Now come darling, there's something I wish to show you…" Maleficent said, pulling Aurora with her as a spinning wheel materialized in the corner of the room. Now curious about the new device, the mind - addled Aurora couldn't help but want to examine the machine.
"Truly magnificent isn't it princess? Now if you wouldn't mind, please prick your finger on the spindle darling – it's only to be expected while sewing after all…" The dark fairy said, gleefully watching as Aurora pricked her finger and immediately fell over like a puppet with its strings cut.
"She is indeed most wondrous fair. Gold of sunshine in her hair. Lips that shame the red,red rose. In ageless sleep, may she find repose." Maleficent said lifting the girl and placing her on her bed, just as her sisters returned to the room, their faces in a rictus of horror.
The dark fairy then turned to her sisters with a draconic smile, gloating as she could clearly see their crestfallen expressions.
"You poor, simple fools! Thinking you could defeat me. ME! The Mistress of all Evil!" She said, cackling as she disappeared in a puff of smoke, remembering that she had another potential threat to eliminate (namely, one Prince Philip, who was at this time, making his way to the woodcutter's shack in the forest).
Now left alone, the three sisters took matters into their own hands. Figuring that it would be better if everyone was simply put to sleep until they could get Philip to kill their sister (their restriction over harmful actions was limited to active deeds – it didn't extend to passive enablement and using Philip's misguided True Love, they could eliminate the only threat to their power and honor the Grimm Principles in one go), they then proceeded to put the entire kingdom to sleep.
As they did so though, Flora overheard Stefan and Hubert grumble to each other about how their kids were better than the other – particularly how Aurora's virtue was untainted and that Philip would come to his senses and stop pursuing some peasant he met in the woods. Putting two and two together, the fairies quickly realized that the man Aurora met was her intended beloved, which meant that if they could bring the two together, Philip could break her curse (of course, they assumed the girl fell in love with him too). Remembering that he was to visit the shack at night at Aurora's behest, the trio then flew over to the forest post haste.
Timing is everything however, and upon their arrival, they quickly discovered signs of a struggle and the lingering magic traces of Maleficent's goons. Diablo's intelligence gathering was no joke – he had informed his mistress of the situation and she had acted – so decisively in fact that she was hatching a plan to stymie her powerful nephew as her sisters clucked like a flock of harried hens over what to do next.
Forbidden Mountain, Dungeons…
Maleficent was having a grand time torturing the prince. She supposed that in another life, she could have found him handsome enough to 'play' with before disposing of him but for now, she delighted in showing him nightmarish visions of his future. A personal favorite was now she would set him free, unharmed as he rode his horse back to Stefan's castle with his head held high. Of course, the prince and horse in the vision were now so old that they looked dead already – breaking the curse as such an old man while his beloved was still a young beauty was such a delicious concept that Maleficent bombarded him with similar psychological torture for several hours, the empty room ringing with the sounds of his defiant yells and pained screams as the goons whipped his naked back for good measure.
Once the prince was in a sufficiently brow-beaten state, she then turned her attention to the true threat to her plans – her nephew Naruto. As she still couldn't gauge the depths of his power, she had come up with the most insidious plan to corrupt him – if her memory served her well (and it did) she knew that Naruto had more than a few women to tend to his carnal needs. In her twisted mind, a powerful entity like him would seduce nubile young women to bear him children while simultaneously corrupting their mothers as caretakers for his children, stealing them from their husbands in the process. If she was to possess the bodies of one of these 'caretakers' she could get close enough to the man to pollute his pure and boundless energies with her own magic – a seed of evil if you will, that would enter him and make him callous enough to ignore her plans and even join her once his conversion was complete.
Truly a flawless plan she thought, leaving her castle before taking flight, making her way to Naruto's house (she had discovered it not too long after kidnapping the prince, vaporizing an imp with lightning when she was once again reminded that the only good help she had was from a bloody crow of all things – she was hoping to change that once Naruto was her minion and in the future, her king consort).
When she got close to his home, she espied Madonna knitting a quilt on the balcony while looking out at the last vestiges of the sunset. Turning into a formless fog, she quickly flew into the face of Madonna as she was absorbed into the woman. It was a speedy process and in a few seconds, Maleficent was behind the wheel in Madonna's body. Madonna was still aware of what was going on around her – she just was under the illusion that she was in control of herself. After gaining her bearings in her new meat shell, Maleficent began looking around for Naruto. Thankfully, she didn't have to stumble around for long as she found his bedroom and decided to lay there for while until he came back.
This had some unforeseen complications though – after Naruto's hasty retreat from Aurora's home, he was feeling more than a little randy after the kiss he received. Rushing over to his room to calm down, he was met with the very appetizing sight of Madonna dozing off in his bed, her long dress hiked up slightly over her long, stocking clad feet. Now in complete beast mode, Naruto immediately pounced on Madonna, not even paying attention to her green eyes before he proceeded to ravish her womanly body and pound her velvety pussy as he put her helpless body through no less than twelve breeding sessions. The woman's surprised squawks were quickly reduced to amorous moans under the ministrations of Naruto and once he was done, he was about to cuddle some more with her (he knew Madonna was a more reserved lady until he flipped her switches but she was a hellion between the sheets today – he didn't think he left her high and dry for that long did he…) as he could clearly see she was still in a delirious haze after their lovemaking, her well used pussy leaking out thick clumps of his voluminous cum.
That was not to be though, as the rapid knocking of his house door had him rushing over to see who was bothering him at this hour. To his infinite surprise, it was his mothers, who asked for his help in rescuing the kidnapped prince from the Forbidden Mountain. Now completely serious, he nodded before turning into his fairy form and flying off with the trio towards said mountain.
Back with Maleficent though, she found herself completely defeated – she could barely muster the energy to leave Madonna's body before taking shaky steps towards the bedroom window, so great was the secondary pleasure from that unexpected session of coitus. After a few minutes though, she was good to leave and so she did, flying over to her castle, unaware that while her seed of evil was implanted into Naruto, his magic/chakra had also implanted itself into her, changing the two of them in ways they would later discover. For Naruto, it was a new affinity for the hellish depths and a greater intergration with Yami Naruto but for Maleficent, it was far more than that, something that would help her survive the coming battles before her.
Meanwhile, back with Aurora…
The titular Sleeping Beauty had not even slumbered for an hour before her necklace suddenly pulsed with a powerful light, the magic from the jewelry washing over her as her eyes burst open. Getting up and looking around, she found herself in her room at the castle and upon wandering the castle, quickly realized that everyone in the kingdom must have been cursed to sleep for eternity. Now at a loss at what to do, she was about to try and get to Naruto's house to ask for help before she was startled by a sudden flash of light before it dissipated, revealing Ella and Grimhilde, both of whom looked at Aurora with a knowing gaze.
"Ella! Grimhilde! Thank goodness you're here – it seems as though the entire kingdom was cursed like me – what do we do?" Aurora said as Grimhilde walked over before holding her shoulder in a firm grip.
"Calm down child. While it may seem as though only Ella and I came here, all the women of our household have arrived in the kingdom – using our combined magic, our beloved has devised a way to dispel all the fairy magic his relatives use. Care to join us in liberating your kingdom princess?" She said as Ella pulled out a seal tag that pulsed with the same magic emanating from Aurora's necklace (while not as potent, it was still a dispel tag).
Aurora responded by asking Ella to turn her clothes into a pair of trousers and a cotton shirt before the three of them joined the rest of the group in awakening the rest of the kingdom's inhabitants.. King Stefan, Hubert and Queen Leah were confused when Aurora woke them up but after a brief explanation, it was the common consensus that in this case, magic caused more problems than it solved. Upon further questioning of just how Aurora saved herself, all she did was smile and mention that it was Naruto they had to thank for all of this, making the pair of kings reconsider past arrangements, especially after Leah confirmed their suspicions about the princess' affections for the adoptive son of the court's magicians.
Back at the Forbidden Mountain…
The dark fairy's castle was in a state of absolute chaos – given the 'good' fairies' reinforcement, it was only a matter of time before the foreboding castle fell before the power of Naruto, who simply cleaved his way though Maleficient's goons, not even needing to use any jutsu, just brute strength and some wind chakra to shred his opponents.
After cleaning up house, Naruto went to the dungeons (where his mothers skulked off to while he was kicking butt and taking names) after catching Diablo, who didn't put up a fight, knowing when he was outmatched and putting him in a birdcage. Upon his arrival, he was just in time to witness the bestowal of the Sword of Truth and the Shield of Virtue to the now freed prince. Despite this auspicious turn of events though, he still had some qualms about the plan.
"Oi! Are we really placing all our bets on this guy somehow getting a lucky hit on Maleficent and defeating her?! Nevermind the fact you pacifists are using this poor guy as a means to kill your own sister – are you all forgetting the fact that she's the literal mistress of hell?!" Naruto said, exasperatedly waving his arms around as his mothers looked away a bit shamefacedly.
The prince on the other hand, didn't take being snubbed by a peasant too kindly and rushed forward, trying to barge into Naruto to knock him down for his insolence. Imagine his surprise when he couldn't even make the man before him grunt in surprise, let alone budge with his charge. Naruto didn't rise to the challenge though; instead calmly putting his hands on Philip's shoulders before looking him in the eyes (he had a good two inches on him so it wasn't too difficult).
"Look, I know I may seem like I am making light of you your Majesty, but you need to know what you're getting into here. Magic is on a whole other level to what you're used to on the training field ya know?" Naruto said as Philip looked away, embarrassed to face Naruto's earnest gaze. He understood what he meant but a part of him didn't want to acknowledge just how powerless Maleficent made him feel, which was made him lash out at Naruto (it was out of character for him as well).
"So what do you suggest? That I stay idle as that monster destroys my life and kingdom?!" Philip yelled as Naruto sighed.
"If you insist on getting involved, then so be it. Just don't expect me to leave you at her mercy when my aunt decides to stop playing with you…" He said as the prince looked at him in shock.
"Maleficent is your aunt?!"
"Oh yeah – the three fairies who saved you are my adoptive mothers! I wasn't joking when I said magic's on a whole other level…I know what I am talking about…" Naruto said as he held up a fist which glowed gold with a red outline for a second as Philip's eyes widened.
Timeskip, In front of King Stefan's castle…
When Naruto, Philip and the fairies arrived at the castle, they were met with a massive and nigh impenetrable wall of thorns surrounding the entire castle. They also noticed the local peasantry being evacuated by the efforts of Naruto's lovers as they saw several carriages leaving in the direction of the forest. Looking up, they saw Maleficent flying overhead, a thunderous expression on her face.
"It's no use my prince! Nothing can get past my wall of thorns! As for you nephew, I thought you were better than this – aligning yourself with such impotent hags when I am the superior fairy…no matter. You'll learn the truth soon enough!" She said, waving her hands as the wall of thorns grew thicker, threatening to shred them with its onslaught.
"Have at thee foul witch! Your magic is no match against the power of truth and virtue!" Philip said, hacking away at the thorns with his sword while Naruto deadpanned at him, all the while slicing the thorns apart with a wind jutsu.
Now truly irritated, Maleficent landed before the group in the form of a massive pitch black fire breathing dragon.
"Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of hell!" She roared, breathing out a massive wave of emerald flames. Philip hunkered behind his shield as the flames parted before it like water but Naruto stood stock still, the flames washing over him but not harming him. He instead felt his heart pulsing with a strangely familiar power instead, a power that Maleficent recognized as her seed of Evil as she roared in triumph.
"Ah, I see my little present has finally taken ahold of you. Tell me nephew – are you ready to join me now? Hhahaha!" She said, looking down at Naruto, who was on his knees, his power growing uncontrollably. When he looked up to her though, she was surprised to see not the shining emerald of an enthralled Naruto but rather scarlet irises with slitted pupils much like her own.
"Oh, I don't know what you're talking about…but I am certainly not on your side Auntie!" Naruto growled out as his body exploded with scarlet tails of energy before a blinding flash of light forced everyone to look away for a second. When the dust settled, what stood in his place was a gigantic golden furred nine tailed fox – big enough to fight the dragon toe to toe and then some. The two titans then squared off against one another as all became quiet – every person for miles around was entirely focused on their stand-off.
Maleficent was shocked just like everyone else before she chuckled.
"So this is your true form? A fitting look for the one I deem worthy to stand by my side as king consort!" She roared as Naruto simply snarled at her before leaping at her, the two titans now airborne (Naruto with his chakra and Maleficent with her wings.
What followed was a short grappling session – Naruto found that fighting in this form came naturally to him – a sharp contrast to Maleficent, who simply assumed this form to annihilate her foes and nothing else. As such, she was quickly manhandled and restrained by Naruto's tails. Now thoroughly incensed, her maw then filled with flames before blasting the fox before her right in the muzzle.
"It's over Aunt. Surrender – you cannot win!" Naruto said, the flames leaving him unfazed as he raised a fist, punching her square in the jaw, knocking her out of her dragon form and into her humanoid one. Now fully expecting to fall to her doom, the fairy was shocked to see Naruto holding her in a massive paw as they came back down to the earth.
"W-why are you doing this? Finish me off – I lost to you fair and square. Twas' a battle worthy of the gods and a fitting end to the Mistress of Evil…" She mumbled as Naruto chuckled at her ever present grandiose speeches, his vulpine form falling away as he turned human again, now wearing little beyond rags.
"Oh, I do believe you have more to offer the world than just your corpse my dear aunt. Of course, I will have to dispel your magic first. Brace yourself – this will hurt." He said, pressing his right hand to a blushing Maleficent's navel before her magic billowed out of her in a spectacular display of emerald energy.
They then alighted on the ground to the flabbergasted gazes of the kingdom's inhabitants as Naruto set Maleficent back on her feet, the dark fairy now quite divested of almost all her former power (but not too sad about it, if how she scooted closer to her nephew was any clue).
"Alright everyone – show's over! Get back to your daily lives!" Naruto said, waving off the incredulous gazes of everyone around him as his lovers all giggled at his sheer gall.
Aurora then burst out of the crowd, rushing to Naruto before leaping into his arms.
"You did it Naruto! You saved the kingdom!"
"Nah – I didn't really do much. Just stopped some hasty actions is all…" He said gesturing over to Philip and the fairies, who recognized the warmth in Aurora's eyes as she looked at Naruto for what it was – true love.
"That's quite modest of you Naruto…and here I thought you'd be crowing in triumph over your complete victory…" She said with an impish smirk as she moved closer while Naruto looked at her in mock outrage.
"Oi! I'll have you know that I don't do anything of the sort – not since I was a kid at least. Seriously…you'd think a man could get some respect around…*mmph*!" Naruto said before Aurora interrupted his rant with a deep kiss on his lips as the two held each other close before the calmly resigned gazes of Stefan, Leah, Hubert, the three fairies and Philip, who simply sighed before smiling, happy for the couple before them. Despite all that fate ordained for her, they could clearly see that Aurora got to choose her own destiny, one that was free of any restraints placed on her through marriage contracts or even magic…
And that was chapter 42! What a doozy-the words just didn't stop this time! We have concluded the Sleeping Beauty arc – this will be followed by an epilogue/interlude chapter before we head to the next leg of our journey – the Jungle Book (the Sword in the Stone really doesn't have much to offer anyway)!
If you'd like to support me you can find me on Patreon on the 'search for creators' bar under DudeWithaMac (I only get free time on Sundays since money's extremely tight-details on Panacea chapter 14). Alternatively, you guys can follow this link:p#at#re#on.#com/DudeWithaMac (remove the hash tags). Reviews and comments are always welcome!