An Unexpected Twist: Maleficent Starts to Like Aurora

A friendship and mother-daughter-like bond forms between Aurora and Maleficent throughout the course of the film. In a drastic change from the original film, Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent is the one who curses Aurora but is also the one who puts in the most effort to save her. At first, Maleficent detests baby Aurora, calling her "Beastie" and "so ugly you could almost feel sorry for it". However, as Aurora explores closer to the Moors and Maleficent begins to interact with her, she becomes fiercely protective over her. She saves her from falling off a cliff on one occasion, and after she fails to revoke her spell, she tries to hide the fact that she cursed Aurora. In the end, Aurora finds out from her fairy-godmothers and storms off toward King Stefan's castle where she pricks her finger and dies (X_X). Despite not believing in True Loves Kiss, Maleficent finds the prince that Aurora met earlier in the woods, in hopes that he can save her. However, Maleficent ends up being the one to wake her up with True Loves Kiss, as her platonic love for Aurora is stronger than Philips barely legitimized romantic love. Once they defeat King Stefan and escape the castle with Maleficent's wings, Aurora chooses to rule over the Moors and her kingdom as the rightful heir. This ending reflects how Maleficent has grown as a character, giving her position on the throne to Aurora, and allowing herself to love and trust again after Stefan.