Her Death-like Sleep

When Persona returned home, she told her sisters, who were the fairies, that she wanted to live in the Moors, but they refused her request. This leads to the four of them having an argument. Persona really wanted to stay in the Moors with Yami (Atem never told her his real name). After their argument, the fairies told her the truth about her parents, them not being sisters, and the curse that was given to her. Confused and hurt about the sudden truth, Persona runs to Atem for some comfort. 

"Yami!"

Atem smiled when he saw Persona, but it quickly disappeared when he saw her running with a distressed look on her face.

"What's wrong, Persona?" He asked in concern when she got close to him.

"My...my sisters...they-- I mean they're...they told me that I'm cursed." Persona had tears brimming in her eyes.

Atem's eyes widened in horror. He knew that she had to know the truth sooner rather than later, but what he's more afraid of is her reaction when she learns the truth about him.

"My sisters, they said it was an evil fairy. I... I can't remember his name. They said...it was..."

"Atem."

Persona looked up at Atem and nodded. Realization struck her when she saw the guilty look in his eyes. 

"Is...that fairy you?" Persona's voice was breaking along with her heart. 

Atem reached his hand out to her to comfort her, apologize to her, give her an explanation, anything that would get her to stay by his side. But, he immediately felt a strike on his cheek that left a burning sensation. 

"You're the evil that's in the world." Tears were flowing down Persona's cheeks and a mix of betrayal, heart-break and anger was shown on her face. "It's you!"

Atem watched as Persona ran off in tears. He lost someone he loved for the second time, and this time, it was due to his own selfish actions. And for the first time, since Maleficent's death, he got down on his knees and buried his face in his hands as he cried.

Persona furiously returns to her father with a broken-heart. She didn't want to believe that the man she grew to love, was the same evil person that cursed her when she was just a baby. When Stefan saw his daughter, he was happy to see her after nearly sixteen years, but he was still furious at the pixies because they were supposed to bring her back the day after her back the day after her sixteenth birthday. He had her locked up in her room and prepares for Atem's arrival. 

Meanwhile, Atem looks at the castle from a distance, sitting on the tree that Maleficent used to live. Soon, the curse will act and take her away. 

"Master." Mana calls out. "Persona is at the castle." 

Atem didn't say anything to his friend and faithful servant, but he still listened to what she had to say.

"I know that you truly feel guilty for what you've done to Persona, and I know that you want to see the error of your ways. You have every right to make King Stefan pay for the pain that he has caused you, and Persona has every right to know what her father did to you that made you curse her in a blind rage. If you show Persona how regretful you are of what you've done to her, I know that she will forgive you. Also, I believe that you will be able to---"

Before Mana could finish her sentence, Atem used his magic to levitate himself off the tree and walked. Mana frowned, thinking that her words were ignored until Atem stopped and said something that made her smile.

"Mana, I need a horse."

As the sun begins to set, the curse of eternal slumber begins to attract Persona. She follows a whispering voice to the castle's dungeon where all the spinning wheels in the kingdom were burnt, while Atem hurries to the castle. However, his attempts to reach her were all in vain; Persona pricks her finger on a spindle and falls into her death-like slumber.

Atem stopped Mana, who has taken the form of a horse. He felt his curse take effect. He knew this was going to happen and if he hadn't fallen in love with Persona and let go of his anger, he would've find the outcome of the curse amusing. But it brought him great pain instead. He wasn't going to let someone he loved get taken away from him for the second time, especially by his own hands. He continued his way to the castle. Atem will save Persona. One way or another. 

To Be Continued...