Diaval watched the special occasion unravel before him, the dinner ruined by vindictive words, a clear tension between the two groups. Diaval did his best not to intervene, keeping quite as words where thrown back and forth between Maleficent and the human queen. Diaval sat on the edge of his seat as each soft-spoken sentence the Queen spoke brought his Mistress closer to breaking point. He could have never predicated the events that next transpired, the toxic green flames that shot round the room, brining darkness around them. Diaval watched as the human kill fell to the floor, he listened as the girl that had mended Maleficent's shattered heart, broke it all over again. Guards got into formation ready to attack, Arora left her godmothers side to kneel at that of the kings. Diaval found himself behind Maleficent, he would only stand by her side nothing he could do in the moment, not unless she wanted him to. The humans charged them, evil not truly in Maleficent's heart she took to the air. Diaval felt magic rush through his veins, a rush of adrenalin as he shifted form. It felt good to once again be in his natural form, his wings stronger than ever, his beak sharp. Immediately his focus was on escape, and with the breaking on glass an exit was formed. Diaval followed Maleficent through the now open window, the fresh air welcoming them home. Soon they where gliding far away from the castle, Diaval hit his wings hard against the sky to keep up with Maleficent, the wings on her back requiring little effort to keep her above ground. Everything then happened in an instant. Something ripped through Diaval's wing, a new burning sensation radiated from his thigh. The wing he had been so proud of failed him and gravity took its toll. The world was fractured in his eyes, images flashing, his body immobilised by shock. The wind screamed as it fought against gravity, Diaval sensed something unwelcome bellow. He hit the rough waters hard, removing what little consciousness he had left. The next thing he felt was water in his small lungs, he battled the darkness as something grasped him, a battle he would lose. He was then still, no breath in his lungs, his heart slowing, mind consumed by fog. He felt suspended in mid-air, alone in a void. Then he felt nothing.

Diaval sat up in distress, a fresh layer of sweat on his forehead as his arm and thigh complained, the sudden movement upsetting his wounds. He clenched his teeth, almost biting his tongue. His head was heavy, breathing unusually problematic.

"Easy" Maleficent sat at his side, he had recalled seining her, now recognizing his surroundings from his earlier moment of consciousness. When he met her eyes, she smirked ever so slightly.

"What happened? Where are we?" Diaval was calm his voice sore. At this time, he realised his smooth leather jacket had been removed, his black under shirt now showing, a single sleeve rolled up revealing bandages wrapped around his arm.

"The humans attacked us… We fell." Even with her strikingly calm features, the recent memory painted pain on her face, Diaval could see it too clearly. Diaval had to rebalance himself, holding himself in a sitting position with his good arm, his other weak and feeble. Not to mention his head pounded and the room span, he took the deepest breath he could to regain himself.

"You brought us here?" Diaval did his best to look around, the soft grass beneath him the only pleasant sensation at this time.

"I did." The deeper voice caught the raven's attention, causing Diaval to look up with his unnatural human eyes. The man stood in the doorway, muscles lined his belly, arms and thick as branches. Diaval's eyes widened, the stranger's wings unmissable, his horns robust, their grey shade complimenting his ebony skin. He turned to Maleficent, he could tell she too was as confused as him. The sudden appearance of her fellow kind after all these years something neither of them could have expected.

"Who are you?" Diaval questioned just confused at this point, unsure if his mind was perceiving his vision correctly.

"Connal." The stranger responded not offended by the blunt question. Diaval didn't know what to do with his answer, even now knowing the fairy's name meant nothing to him and provided him with little to no insight into their situation.

"He saved us, brought us here." Maleficent added, giving Diaval more information to piece together what had happened. A straight explanation appearing to not come his way, the events even still baffling Maleficent. With his mind racing and the banging within his skull growing ever louder Diaval struggled to remain alert.

"Great well, good to know." Diaval swayed where he sat.

"He needs rest." Connal's concern mimicked Maleficent's. With her palm at her lips, luminescent dust drifted towards Diaval, his eyes slipped closed as he eased himself to the floor.

Maleficent felt a pit in her stomach as Diaval struggled, he lay on his back eyes fluttering open and closed, his breathing still not a staple of health. She rested a hand on his chest.

"He will recover." Connal comforted her from behind, having taken a step in their direction. She had recollected after Diaval's questioning of their saviour, that she had never acquired his name, her mind solely being dedicated to Diaval's fate. Her jaw appeared clenched as her hand remained on her friend's chest, anticipating the worse.

"Those responsible will suffer." Her cheek bones could have sliced through the neck of a man, her eyes violated by rage.

"The Humans?" Connal spoke with wisdom, not questioning for knowledge but questioning her reasoning.

"They will suffer." Every fibre of her being burned with revenge.

"What about your daughter, is she not human?" Connal did not flinched as he was suddenly face to face with Maleficent, others' hearts would have halted at the mere sight of the legendary witch. Her teeth peered out from her velvet lips, a hiss on the tip of her tongue.

"I have no daughter." Even though her words expressed hatred, a deep sadness was laced within each letter.

"You have more power than you know. A bigger influence on those around you than you could ever imagine." Maleficent chuckled, unable to look Connal in the eye, his face almost a joke.

"Have you never wondered about your past?" Maleficent became stern once again, her smile faded. "I can give you the insight you have always wanted." Connal proceeded to the door, daring her to follow. Maleficent didn't need to answer, she turned to Diaval who lay quietly beside them. "He will be in safe hands I assure you." The words of the stranger where strangely comforting again no doubt in her heart that he spoke the truth. With one last long look over her friend she decided to follow Connal, trusting Diaval to be as she left him when she returned. Alive.