Time Skip! I've been waiting to write this chapter for a while so I'm excited that it's finally here. Also, I have a link to Darcey's character design up on my profile page if you want to check that out. Anyway, I don't own anything, Maleficent belongs to Disney. Enjoy!

Save the Eggs

"So, how's Vala? I haven't seen her since December?" Aurora asked as we sat down and had tea at my cottage. Diaval and Maleficent, who were also present, shot me a look. It had been two months and we hadn't told Aurora anything about what happened that night when I tried to revoke Maleficent's curse.

"She's been a bit busy," I smiled. "Vala laid her eggs back in January and has been busy keeping them warm. She'll be back around in the spring."

"Vala's going to be a mom?" Aurora asked excited.

"I didn't know Vala found a mate," Maleficent piped in.

"Well mates aren't that big of a thing for dragons. They're very independent creatures that only breed once in a hundred years. The male typically leaves right after the eggs are laid," I explained.

"So the father just leaves the mother with the eggs? That's unheard of for my kind. Us raven's mate for life," Diaval disapproved.

"Do you have a mate Diaval?" Aurora asked. I shifted a bit in my seat, finding myself uncomfortable thinking about Diaval having a mate.

"No, still haven't found the right bird yet," Diaval answered.

"More like no females have chosen you yet," Maleficent said, taking a sip of tea. Diaval's face reddened either out of anger or embarrassment I couldn't tell, perhaps both.

"I'm sure that Darcey would choose you. After all I first thought you to were together when Fairy Godmother showed me that he can become human," Aurora said. I blushed at her suggestion as Diaval turned and looked at me. Maleficent was even curious as to what my response would be.

"I mean, you're great Diaval and we've worked so well together over the years but… I'm not a raven. I'm sure you'd rather be with another raven than a human," I answered, trying to hide that sadness in my voice.

I'd thought about attempting a romantic relationship with Diaval over the years. I mean, his flirting suggested that he liked me and we did work well together taking care of Aurora. But the reminder that he was a raven came up every time Maleficent or I transformed him and that's what stopped me. A raven wouldn't want to give up his life as a bird to be with a human.

Diaval looked like he was about to say something but stopped when I stood up in alarm, looking out my window. I could feel a large amount of distress coming from Vala thanks to our mental connection.

"Something's wrong. Vala's in trouble." I told my friends. "I have to go help her."

"Go on, Darcey. We'll accompany Aurora back to her house," Maleficent offered.

I nodded in thanks and then focused my magic on Vala's location. Concentrating really hard my golden magic surrounded me as I transported myself to my dragon.

o

Vala had set up her nest a close to the Moors within a cave by the ocean. She thought that it would be close to me while also being hidden enough from anyone else. Apparently the latter wasn't the case for when I arrived I discovered that Vala was being attacked by a large group of men. One of them noticed me and came at me with his blade which I quickly dodged. I sent some magic at him, flinging him away from me. Looking over I saw Vala trying to fend off the attackers while simultaneously trying to protect her eggs.

"Darcey, thank god you're here," Vala said when she noticed that I was there.

"Care to tell me what's going on?" I asked, flinging aside another man who came at me.

"They're here for my eggs," Vala told me as she used her tail to knock a row of man back.

"Well that's not going to happen," I replied, narrowing my eyes.

My magic turned more offensive as I myself began attacking the men. There were a lot of them, something I was used to having defended the wall of thorns from Stephan's army of men, but I didn't have a wall between us to protect me. I was up close fighting against these men. It was scary, especially as they thrust their swords at me.

It took a bunch of my concentration to fight off the assailants. Vala and I were doing a good job fending them off and most of them had either retreated or ended up dead, burnt to a crisp or slashed thanks to Vala. I was fighting off against one of the remaining men when I heard a bird cry out from behind me. From the corner of my eye I saw a man had snuck up behind me and was about to slash me with his blade when a familiar bird attacked his face.

In doing this he distracted the man but also distracted me. The man I was fighting against swung his sword at me. I was quick to react but wasn't quick enough as his blade managed to slice my side. I let out a cry of pain as my hand went to cradle my now bleeding side. Feeling a burst of angry flow through me I tackled the man, causing the both of us to fall into the ocean water right at the edge of the cave. It was a shock falling into the water but I tried to keep my concentration as I kicked my attacker deeper into the water's depths. He tried to fight back, swinging his sword at me once again, but the weight of his sword was too heavy in the water. It didn't get very far. With my air running out I used a burst of magic to send him so far down that he wouldn't get back up to the surface.

I watched as bubbles of air erupted from his mouth, guaranteeing that he wouldn't be coming, before swimming back up to the surface myself. I gasped for a breath of air and then hoisted myself up onto the ledge of the cave. My breathing was heavy as laid on the ground trying to compose myself. It appeared that Vala had taken out the remaining attackers. A harsh pain reminds me of my slashed side that continued to bleed. Summoning up some energy I used my magic to heal the wound. I let out a sigh of relief when I felt my skin was completely healed.

The familiar bird from before landed next to me, using his beck to brush my wet hair from my face. I lifted my hand and transformed him into Diaval. He helped me to a sitting position, worry in his eye.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Fine. Exhausted… but fine," I answered.

"You could have gotten her killed, bird," Vala growled at Diaval. He looked around confused beyond belief.

"Who said that?" he asked.

"I did," Vala answered.

"Finally comfortable talking to someone who isn't me?" I teased, letting out a slight chuckle. "It's Vala, Diaval."

"You're lucky that my human is fine, bird," Vala glared at him.

"How are the eggs?" I asked. Vala's expression softened as she looked back at her nest.

"They're fine. I made sure those bastards didn't get to them. Thank you for coming, Darcey," Vala told me.

"You're my dragon, Vala. Of course I'd come to help. Besides, it is my job as a Legendary to protect magical creatures," I smiled at her.

Vala gave me a small smile. "I best get you two back to shore. There's no way I'm letting you magick yourself back to your house. The fight appears to have drained you of energy and having to heal yourself and transform that bird brain didn't help," she told me.

"Bird brain," Diaval scoffed insulted.

"Just help me up, bird brain," I teased. Diaval rolled his eyes but helped me to my feet and then helped me up onto Vala's back before getting on himself.

"Better keep your hands in the appropriate places bird," Vala told Diaval before we took off. The first flap of Vala's mighty wings and Diaval had his arms wrapped around my waist. I couldn't help but laugh when Vala took off and he tightened his arms around me, holding on for dear life. Looks like the bird was afraid of flying via dragon.

o

Vala dropped us off when we reached land, not wanting to be farther away from her eggs for much longer. She threatened Diaval that he better get me back home alright to which I told her that I was a grown woman and that I could make it there just fine. He still hovered around me the whole way back to my house.

"Why did you come?" I asked. "It's not like you could have done a lot as a raven, no offense."

"I was just worried about you, that's all," he answered.

"You've seen me fight before at the wall of thorns. What made you so worried about this time?" I asked still confused.

"I was always there with you at the wall where I could see that you were alright. I guess this time just scared me a bit more," Diaval told me.

"That's sweet but you know I can take care of myself," I told him.

"I know. It's just that… I care about you a lot, Darcey," he said, cradling my face in his hand. My breath hitched when I realized how close we were. So close that I could have easily kissed him but I didn't when the thought of him not wanting to be with a human entered my mind again.

"I care about you too, Diaval. You're a great friend," I said, disliking how the word friend tasted on my tongue. I pulled out of his touch and made my way towards my door. "It's been a long day. I should get some rest."

"Darcey," Diaval said as I walked in my cottage.

"Yes?" I replied, curious as to what he wanted.

"Can I… can I use your shower?" he asked.

I couldn't help but pause, a bit taken aback. "Uh, I think I can muster up some magic for that, sure," I answered. "May I ask why?"

"I have some things to think about," he replied and followed me into my house.

I got Diaval situated in my bathroom and then retreated to my bedroom, exhausted from everything that happened today.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to leave me a review and a crazy "So Tell Me About Yourself" answer.

"So Tell Me About Yourself" is an inside joke between me and my friends which started from my one friend's hatred for the typical getting-to-know-you question "So tell me about yourself". She, being so annoyed with the phrase, gave a silly answer that she murdered people in their sleep. When she brought it back to me and my other friend we both gave a silly answer. That is where the idea for my account name came from.