Disclaimer: I don't own Maleficent.

...

The tranquility of the Moors was interrupted as three pixies flew up to the Rowan tree, holding an aged scroll and chirping loudly, "Maleficent, Maleficent!"

Irritated, Maleficent sighed as she opened her eyes to find the excited pixies hovering before her. On the branch overhead, Diaval gave a small, sleepy caw. "What?" she asked the pixies dryly. "Couldn't this wait until morning? I am trying to sleep."

"Maleficent, you will never believe - " Flittle began to exclaim, but Knotgrass cut her off.

"Flittle, I want to tell her!" she huffed.

"Oh, sorry," said Flittle, deflating slightly.

Knotgrass appeared somewhat smug as she announced, "Flittle, Thistlewit, and I were visiting Aurora at the castle this afternoon, but Aurora was busy with her royal duties. So we decided to explore the castle. Thistlewit dragged us into the library, where - "

"We discovered a spell to turn back time!" squeaked Thistlewit, unable to wait any longer for Maleficent to hear the news. Knotgrass let out a cry of dismay and rebuked Thistlewit.

Ignoring the fact that the pixies had been in the library, Maleficent sat up in her nest, suddenly interested. Diaval also looked intrigued, and glided down to perch on Maleficent's shoulder. "A spell to turn back time?" she repeated.

"Yes!" said Knotgrass, regaining her composure. "It was locked in King Stefan's desk."

Maleficent stiffened at the mention of the deceased king. "Why would you be snooping in there?" she asked, her tone cool.

"I thought I heard something in his desk drawer," said Flittle. "It was a mouse."

Maleficent arched an eyebrow. "Wonderful."

"We thought you might like to take a look at it," said Knotgrass as the threesome proudly presented the scroll. Maleficent tentatively took it.

"Thank you," she said politely. The pixies were delighted at having "assisted" Maleficent, and left her tree babbling happily.

Relieved that Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit had left, Maleficent sighed. Aurora's aunts meant well, but they were a little…. Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit-ey, to put it simply.

Diaval jumped off Maleficent's shoulder and took on his human form. After Maleficent had been reunited with her wings, she had granted Diaval the ability to change forms at will. She had also freed him from servitude, sadly expecting him to leave the Moors. But he stayed. It took him a while to get used to only being Maleficent's friend, not just her servant, but now they were closer than ever.

"A spell to turn back time?" he asked.

Maleficent set the scroll at the bottom of her nest, and settled back, prepared for sleep. "It can't be of any use. The pixies did find it in Stefan's desk."

"True," agreed Diaval, although he sounded a bit disappointed. "That would have been great if it did work, though." With that, he turned back into a raven and flew back to his sleeping spot. Maleficent closed her eyes.

A moment later, her eyes snapped open, and she reached for the scroll. Standing up, Maleficent stretched her wings. Diaval opened his own eyes and watched, slightly amused, as Maleficent took flight and hovered for a moment above the tree, searching for a light to read by. The glowing water faeries still skating on a nearby pond's surface would suffice. Maleficent flew toward the light and landed. Unrolling the scroll, the first thing she noticed was that it indeed bore the marks of having been a mouse's chew toy.

Maleficent read the words on the page, and then read them again. The incantation was unfamiliar - she had never seen anything like this before. But Maleficent was willing to try something new. Besides, the pixies had brought her this. The pixies couldn't possibly be purveyors of any valuable spell. But she could still try….

Upon returning to her tree, Maleficent placed the scroll at her feet and raised her hands. Diaval cocked his head curiously as she closed her eyes in concentration and began to murmur. "I, Maleficent, voluntas ius iniuria, et conteram in solidum est. Pone ad solem occidentem et orientem, quid repetere fuit." Golden light started to swirl around her, creating a breeze that rustled the leaves on the tree and blew Maleficent's loose hair around her face as she chanted under her breath. The light grew brighter until it was blinding, and Diaval couldn't make her out. But before he could do anything, it faded, and Maleficent opened her eyes. She glanced around. Nothing had changed.

Maleficent snorted. "Of course," she said, looking at Diaval. "I should have known better than to trust those ninnies." Maleficent picked up the scroll and tossed it carelessly to the other side of the tree. She would properly dispose of it in the morning, but now, she just wanted sleep.

Maleficent lay back down in the position she had been in before the pixies' disruption. She and Diaval were peacefully slumbering within moments, both oblivious to the shroud of golden magic encasing Maleficent once more.

...

Hey, fellow Malefifreaks! Thanks for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this! :)

Reviews would be nice. Constructive criticism is appreciated.

Kitty

P.S. I did not come up with the brilliant fandom name Malefifreaks. That privilege belongs to the amazing Firegirl210 (go check out her book, Fae and Ravens!). I simply think it's awesome, and wanted to promote it.