Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-29195016-20160724182401/@comment-25926288-20170610234620

Well, that's as speculative as mine, to be honest. Personally, I think she's a shapeshifter, like the dragon, etc. However, the show has presented evidence for both sides.

Evidence that Mal is actually a were-dragon:

1. Lily easily turned into a dragon with the shapeshifter eyes. (Although this doesn't mean Mal is a were-dragon as the father could be.)

2. Mal gave birth as a dragon.

Evidence agaisnt it:

1. Rumple said Maleficent was just "showy" with her years of culitivating that ability.

2. While she gave birth in dragon form, Lily was born as a human baby, not a baby dragon.

Either way, early 4B had Emma not knowing if she was a shapeshifting dragon or a lady that could turn into one and they never answered her question. XD