A/N: Just a little something inspired by Maleficent's comment about her wings during the movie and Celine Dion's song "Falling Into You." Only, when I went looking for the lyrics, I found an even better song to go with it. Hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Falling Into You
…
I've been broken and battered
I've been lost in my home
I've been cryin' a river
I've been cold as a stone
But falling into you
It carries me far enough away
And everything you do
It lightens up my darker side of day
-"Falling Into You," Kasey Chambers
…
"And they were strong. They could carry me above the clouds and into the headwinds. And they never faltered, not even once. I could trust them."
The words she'd spoken to Aurora came flooding back as Maleficent found herself desperately trying to get her wings to respond as she plummeted headfirst towards the ground.
A raven cawed as it frantically circled around her and, without thinking, she flicked her wrist.
Diaval raised an eyebrow as he suddenly found himself falling headlong beside her, "Really?" he asked wryly, "That's the master plan? We both die?"
Maleficent opened her mouth to say something – anything – in reply, but words failed her. He seemed to take pity on her and his face softened.
"Mistress, when will you learn that I am your wings?" he asked gently and she realised with a jolt that her wings were gone.
An anguished cry ripped from her throat moments before he reached out to gather her in his arms, preparing to cushion her fall with his body. She fought against him, struggling to free her hands so that she could turn him back into a raven.
He tightened his hold on her, "Just relax," he soothed, trapping her hands in his own, "I'm not going to let you fall," he promised. "You can trust me," he added as he suddenly sprouted wings and brought their plummet to an end as he took her soaring up into the sky…
Maleficent woke with a start.
She took a deep, calming breath as she took in her surroundings.
Her eyes fell on the raven sleeping soundly, just within arm's reach, in a nest hidden deep within the branches of her tree where he thought she couldn't see.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she resisted the urge to reach out to stroke his feathers as she relaxed.
"…they never faltered, not even once. I could trust them."
Once again her words echoed in her mind but this time there was no nostalgia – or even fear – as she reflected that, no matter what happened, she could always trust her "wings."