Diaval flew, the harsh, cold wind ruffled his inky black feathers as he soared through the sky. The morning sun breaking through the foreboding grey clouds only slightly. His destination was clear only to him, a place he had been many times before. A small, dilapidated house, not dissimilar in appearance to the houses that surrounded it, but so much more important in Diaval's opinion. For this was the house he had once been captive in, kept in a small iron cage. Poked, teased, bullied by the one who kept him there.

Now, why would such a proud and beautiful bird want to return to the place his dreams tormented him with? Why would he come back to this stagnant, poor town to look upon this disgusting, terrifying house?

The door screamed in protest as it was swung open and a girl stepped out, slightly too thin and slightly too pale to be a fully healthy girl. Her hair was long and knotted but the bright copper could not be dulled, it shone in the infrequent rays of sunlight. Her clothes were old and tatty, but her smile, her smile was strong, brave and kind.

"I'll return soon mother." She called and she gently tugged the door closed behind her.

Diaval perched upon the loose roof tiles and watched her, she had grown a lot since he last saw her, being the spy of Maleficent had kept him some what busy. He wished to thank her, for the kind and gentle words she had spoken to him in her youth. The way she had released him from his confines even though she knew she would be in trouble for it. He wished it so badly it made his chest ache.

Instead he just watched as she made her way down the crowded street, hopping and gliding above the roof tops to keep up with her movements. She was heading to a quiet path, Diaval knew this path, it lead to the towns graveyard. He felt almost shy to follow her further, knowing she wouldn't want someone to intrude on her grief but Diaval was merely a raven so surely it would be okay?

In the time he spent thinking the girl had stopped, her hand resting atop a gravestone, her shoulders slumped, her knotted hair covering her face. Diaval couldn't stand the fact that he could not comfort the girl who had comforted him so splendidly during his imprisonment. He plucked a daisy from the ground and landed gracefully next to her hand. Her eyes widened as they landed on him, daisy hanging from his beak.

"A raven?" She whispered.

Diaval dropped the daisy on her hand, he looked up in to her eyes expecting to see indifference, or worse disgust, reflected there, but only curiosity shone in her dark brown eyes.

"Thank you raven" She smiled gently "You have cheered me up greatly." She gingerly reached towards him, biting her lower lip. Diaval felt her icy fingers stroke his jet black feathers and leant in to her touch. She chuckled quietly as she whispered "Soft."

Diaval stiffened, his heart was racing, her fingers left his body and she looked out across the land. The view from the graveyard was beautiful, you could see the border of the moors.

"I envy you, raven. You can go anywhere you please, that truly is a gift." Her voice broke slightly as she spoke. "I... if only I could go somewhere else." She looked back down at him. "But that is just a dream, and not everyone can have their happy endings."

Diaval's confusion grew, she did not seem like the cheerful young girl who had set him free, he suddenly noticed the thin lines around her eyes, the slump in her shoulders, the effort in her smile. She had been worn down by life, the relentless hardships and hard work had got close to breaking the girl he had been freed by. Diaval knew he would have to help her, to save her as she once saved him. He bowed to her before turning and taking flight.

"Diaval" Maleficent's drawl was immediately recognizable "I'm curious, why would a proud raven spend his free time visiting such a terribly dreary place."

Diaval landed beside her on a large tree branch and felt the change to his human form, his bones shivered as they elongated and he finally regained his voice.

"I have business there." He murmured

"Business? How peculiar." She cackled

"Yes. business."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with that red headed girl would it?" She purred, Diaval hated the games she would play, she had softened since Aurora melted her heart but her love of teasing him never left her completely.

"She helped me, a long time ago and now she is different." Diaval explained "She showed me kindness in a world that has shown her none. I wish to repay that favour."

"And how would a raven do that? You are merely a bird." She reminded him.

"A bird yes, but a bird that can take on human form... when you allow it." Diaval prayed he could persuade Maleficent to help him, if Aurora were here she would say yes straight away.

"You have a debt to this girl?" Maleficent looked troubled, if only slightly, and tapped her finger upon her chin.

"Yes mistress." Diaval felt it difficult to tear his gaze away from the ground in fear he would find Maleficent laughing at him.

"Then you must repay it." She announced suddenly.

"Really? I mean, yes. To be in debt to her would be unsightly and troublesome."

"Quite." Maleficent chuckled. "What is your plan?"

Diaval finally met her gaze, his heart felt hopeful and was thumping rapidly as the ideas flashed through his mind. He could save her, at last, he could repay her.