When the Magic runs Out, Love Remains
Well, here's another little creation from me; I know I'm in the minority but I ADORED Wish and King Magnifico especially and after watching the film a few times.....(Well, 50 :) haha) I came up with this...the story is mine but all characters etc belong to Disney, I'm just borrowing them. This is set post-film .
EDIT: If anyone thinks I need to re classify to mature, do let me know!
When the Magic Runs Out, Love Remains
Introduction: A Wish for Rosas
King Magnifico was a powerful sorcerer who guarded the people and wishes of his beloved kingdom of Rosas with a fatherly hand; enter a young girl named Asha, whose new vision for Rosas brought fear and challenge to his door, leading him to use magic beyond his control to threaten those he purported to care for.
Thanks to Asha, Rosas was saved and Magnifico was imprisoned by his own curse.
Now, just over 3 years on, Rosas is thriving and the evil King is barely a memory...for all except Queen Amaya; when news reaches her that her former husband is gravely ill...when all is said and done, the only true magic is love.
Even Eternity Has a Sell by Date
It was another fine day in Rosas, the sun was shining from a brilliant blue sky as people danced and laughed as they worked hard to make their wishes come true...the joy of freedom, thanks to young Asha and her plucky friends along with a very special star; Asha was now officially the Fairy Godmother of the kingdom.
Unlike her predecessor she guided rather than commanded, showed kindness rather than fear.
She was the true meaning of Rosas.
At this moment, she was laughing as her companion a wise-cracking goat called Valentino, hopped about pulling funny faces, delighting a group of young children.
Queen Amaya watched from the window of her former husband’s study, smiling at the happy scene below...but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes; she knew others would think her foolish or worse, a traitor, however she lived her days with a icy pain in her chest.
It had started with such pure intentions; Magnifico (not his real name but he’d gone by it for so long, Amaya barely remembered what it actually was) had made a plan to become a benevolent sorcerer and create a kingdom where people would never know fear or sadness from cradle to grave, driven by his own tragedies. She hoped her love had helped to at least soothe the pain a little. Part of his powers had been to guard the most special wish in any individual ‘s heart until such time it was right for them to be granted and over a great many years this had worked well, (he had enacted an incantation on them both meaning they were almost immortal), until Asha had questioned him.
Amaya had seen her loving husband change from a calm, yet flamboyant showman to a creature of deep anger and jealousy, controlled by an evil curse that wouldn’t break its hold...oh the terror, the viciousness he wrought was too cruel to contemplate...he was stopped, of course and she had doled out an equally wicked punishment, such was her anger at his deception.
The people saw the ‘Mad King Magnifico’, a petulant and corrupted man who cared for naught but himself.
Amaya saw differently...she knew a fun, intelligent man with goodness in his heart and a hardworking soul and, in spite of everything, she still loved him and hated the fact they had been forced apart for safety.
The bedroom felt as cold and dark as the dungeon in which his mirror resided...oh she’d give anything to free him, give him a 2nd chance to remember who he truly was...
“Oh, Mi Rey.” Amaya allowed a few tears trickled from her eyes as she held her face in her hands.
“Your Majesty!” The door banging open and the urgent tone brought her from her reverie instantly.
“Simon?!” She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Is something wrong?”
“Ye, yes Your Majesty, please come quickly.”
“Is it Asha? Dahlia?” She hurried toward him.
“N-no.” He bowed his head before continuing in an unsure, halting tone. “It’s...it’s the former King.”
Amaya’s heart banged like a drum as she glided speedily down the long staircase and across the grounds before ducking into a darkened arch and down the darkest winding staircase, Simon barely keeping up; the dank droplets made Amaya shiver as they snuck down the back of her neck, the almost snuffed candles hollow of warmth or light.
Silence...unchanged in three years, perhaps Simon was wrong...then the sound erupted, plunging like a dagger of fear through Amaya ears and heart...
As she ran, the rattling bark seemed amplified in this cavernous corridor but the closer she got the wall at the end the more she realised it was all Magnifico; he moaned softly but within seconds it started again.
“Mi Rey?!” She gasped in shock, her hands on the wall either side of the mirror as she saw the tragic tableau within.
Magnifico was hunched over, his piercing blue eyes clouded with fatigue and looking beyond dishevelled, his cheeks hollow as he shivered convulsively, trying in vain to burrow into his tattered cloak; he continued to cough and splutter violently, seemingly unaware of anything.
Finally the fit was over; he slumped to the ground, eyes closing as he limply tried to swipe the sweat from his forehead, the most horrific rattle echoed from his punished lungs as they struggled to pull oxygen through.
“Oh, my darling.” Tears caught in Amaya’s throat. “Mi Rey?” She called softly, praying he’d respond.
Magnifico summoned every ounce of his meagre strength to lift his head and open his eyes, though his vision was very blurred he knew instantly who it was, causing his frail heart to skip and quicken its beat.
“A-Amaya?” He smiled his once strong, jocular voice breathless and broken. “My love, y-you came.”
It physically hurt Amaya to see him this way; once so powerful now so damaged.....and hopeless, yet that flicker of light at her sight reminded her that his was still hers...and she was still his.
“What happened to you? How long have you been so ill?”
“I can’t remember.” He grimaced, cradling his tender ribs.
A sudden, almost irrational anger filled Amaya’s soul as she turned to Simon. “How long has he been unwell?!”
“I..I..don’t know, Your Majesty.” Simon stuttered. “The guards said he was beset by the coughing fever some weeks ago.”
She gaped. “Weeks?! And no-one sent for me?!”
“I..I..” He backed away fearfully; he’d never seen her like this; the Queen was quiet, graceful...gentle; had Magnifico’s forbidden magic affected her too? “They said he was just another prisoner...”
“Amaya, don’t scold the boy, he didn’t know; today’s the first day he’s seen me since...that night.”
She looked back at Magnifico as he moaned quietly, one hand cupping his forehead, the other pressed against his chest, straining to subdue another assault from his infected system.
“My love, isn’t there a potion that could heal this fever from you?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Sorcery is what got me into this mess.”
“Tell me; tell me where to find it, I’ll follow it to the letter.”
His head lolled wearily, the errant lock of hair that always refused to stay in place strayed across his forehead, and Amaya ached to smooth it back into place with the same tenderness as she had so many times before.
“There isn’t one.”
Hearing her horrified gasp he knew he had been far too blunt but there was nothing else for it.
“The price of forbidden magic is always much higher than is written.”
“No...no, it can’t be true...” Her plea almost soundless from a clog of tears, several trickling down her cheeks.
She remembered seeing it written in that wretched book: ‘Embrace forbidden magic just once and you commit to it for all eternity.’
In her heart of hearts she had always wanted to believe Magnifico was clever and powerful enough to break the curse in some form or other...now he was truly mortal.
“Don’t cry, my love.” He murmured. “You are too beautiful to do anything but smile.”
She chuckled as she flashed a watery smile.
“Ah, there it is.” Magnifico’s serene smile soon changed to a deep grimace as another thunderous coughing fit engulfed him.
Amaya wanted to scream and smash the mirror with her bare hands, though she knew it was futile as the glass was practically indestructible such was the magic from which it was made, anything to free him and get help.
What threat could he be now?!
“Breathe!” She begged emotionally as he continued to choke. “Breathe, Mi Rey!”
Magnifico felt as if he were drowning, combined with the agonising cold and bone deep pain, he knew he had no strength left to fight...forbidden magic had imprisoned him now sickness would consume him....suitably dramatic, he noted; he’d always been the most theatrical kind of sorcerer.
“No..no.” His head snapped back as he was paralysed from pain, the eerie green glow seeping across his skin as the invisible force gave a blinding flash and threw him to the ground; Amaya shielded her eyes, cowering.
Magnifico shivered fiercely, his teeth chattering hard as he rested his head against the back of his hand.
“Please leave....” He begged whisperingly. “I didn’t want you to see this...to be scared of me.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Amaya realised the glass was clear...had the spell been broken?
For a moment there was only the sound of dripping water and Magnifico’s continued desperate and exhausted breathing.
“I’m tired, Amaya.” He murmured. “So very tired.”
“You promised me eternity.” She whispered brokenly.
He pretended not to hear as he looked up at her. “You look tired too; you should go upstairs and rest.”
“I’m perfectly alright.”
“No, no.” Magnifico shook his head. “It’s too cold and damp for you here, you could get sick...I...I couldn’t bear...that.”
Amaya saw the tears in his eyes as she gently stroked the image of his hair. “Shhh, darling, shhh.”
He cleared his throat stiffly, trying to wipe his eyes at the same time. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled at his rueful expression...he never had found it easy to show emotion and her bringing even positive attention to it would only embarrass him further.
“Darling?” He murmured sheepishly. “Would you grant me just one wish?”
“Anything in my power, I promise.”
“Kiss me goodnight?”
“Of course.” She carefully took the mirror down and kissed him tenderly...she knew it was her imagination but she’d swear she could feel his lips embracing hers.
For the first time in three years, Magnifico felt warm and safe; his own imagination as vivid a power as his wife’s...her cool silken lips, the feather touch of her fingertips in his hair...he was home.
There was no pain, no weakness...no evil...only love...
“Ah, my love, you are so beautiful.” He blinked, realising he could see clearly for the first time too.
“And you are still my handsome King.”
He flicked his eyebrow mischievously but spoke seriously. “Our love is truly the greatest magic I ever found.”
Silence fell as they gazed into each other’s eyes...
“Save your strength, rest now.” Amaya gracefully slid down the wall to sit on the floor, scooting under a candle so the light and warmth could comfort them. “There...”
“Hmmm...just like old times.” Snuggling against the glass he could feel the velvet softness around him.
Amaya desperately wanted to go back to their bedchamber in the castle, however, she knew her reappearance would invite questions and curiosity, however well-meaning, so instead she held the mirror close, tucking her sleeve around to keep him warm while she rocked and hummed gently as she had done for so many nights, soothing herself as much as him.
“Goodnight Mi Rey, sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight my darling Amaya.”
Magnifico gave a soft sigh of contentment as darkness crept in...his own wish had finally been granted; to be with the love of his life for one last time.....
