Chapter Text
Back in the cavern with the dark fortress of stone, it looked relatively the same. Minus the fact that there were two people climbing the fortress.
The first was a handsome young man that had a strong build with a chiseled jawline and looked to be around 17.
His skin was tan, he had long pinkish lavender hair with violet highlights. His eyes were a light gray, and on his forehead was a blue tattoo.
He wore a low V-neck white shirt, a dark blue hoodie with hints of blue and purple. Around his neck was a necklace with a small anchor hanging from it, and a bracelet on his left wrist. He wore black pants, and black shoes.
And his companion was a girl, she looked to be around his age, and had a medium brown complexion, long, curly mahogany brown hair, and cerulean eyes.
She wore a soft pink sleeveless hoodie, accompanied by khaki-trimmed, teal-colored jeans with green patches and pink combat boots.
“I think we’re almost there cousin.” The girl said as she grasps a ledge.
But she stomps when she saw the silhouette of a monster pass, its footsteps thumping against the floor.
Sweat from her exhaustion rolled down her face. “No time. We’ll be found out any second now.”
Continuing to climb up, the girl soon made it to the top. Catching her breath, the girl groaned as she turns around and looked at her cousin.
She held out her hand to him. “Come on Nereus. We gotta hurry and find the Pixies.” Grasping his hand, the girl pulled Nereus up. “Thanks Aisha.” Nereus thanked.
“Okay. Let's see now. Let me think.” A voice said.
Recognizing the voice, the cousins looked to see that they had coincidentally found the very thing they were looking for.
Which was a group of cute little pixies, who were currently trapped behind an orange barrier.
“That’s Chatta.” Aisha muttered as they both got up.
Chatta was a tanned skinned pixie with long orange-blonde hair that was styled in pigtails, curled at the end, and had big amber eyes.
“So, yes, this is it. No, no, no, wait, wait! I need to think about this for a second. Um…right.”
“If I go to the left, the power will...” The Pixie backtracks again. “Wait, wait, wait! If I say three, she will turn, magic will converge.”
“Yes, that's it! And so, in a nutshell, if we pull this off, I'm absolutely sure we can finally escape from this dreadful place.”
A tired sigh left the mouth of Amore, a pixie with long magenta hair, dark blue eyes, and green wings.
“Oh well. I really hope it's better than your first fifty ideas.” Amore stated.
Chatta gestured to both Digit and Piff.
The former was a futuristic looking pixie with dark blue hair that was slicked back like a mullet with a blueish-gray streak going down the middle, and light blue eyes.
While the latter was looked much younger had a dark complexion, wore pink pajamas with a big pink bonnet. And to top it all off, the pixie was fast asleep.
“Digit and Piff will stop midway to the sides. Digit to the right and Piff to the left.”
“I'll count to 3 and then we all switch positions and converge to produce an unexpected magical impact on the wall.”
Tune, a lavender haired pixie that looked like a Victorian doll speaks up. “But will the movements be coordinated and elegant at least?”
Livy, a pixie with short blonde hair and blue eyes shakes her head. “Girl, elegance is the least of our worries right now, there’s no time.”
Tune scoffs in response. “There is always time for elegance!”
Aisha and Nereus climb through a small opening and fall in a dog pile once they got inside.
Zing, a pixie that dressed in an insect inspired outfit shushes the others. “Shh quiet! Someone's coming.”
Fear coursed through the bodies of Lockette and Pam, who were shivering.
“Who could that be?” Lockette whimpered. “I wonder, hmm.” Digit looked at the bones of various monsters that were adorned on the walls.
A male Pixie by the name of Morpho smirked. “Maybe it’s a giant spider, or worse a giant, pixie eating leviathan!”
Pam and Lockette scream in fear and hugged each other, trying to hold back tears.
Tune slaps Morpho upside the head. “Morpho! You’re scaring them!” Morpho rubs his head. “I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
Lockette glares at him. “How is scaring us to death lightening the mood?” She huffs. “You’ve always been such a jerk!”
Because of the room being too dark, the pixies couldn’t see who it was and mainly saw Nereus and Aisha’s silhouettes as they walked forward.
And to the Pixies, they looked like a four eyed hulking brute of a monster. They all gasped in fear and Amore even faints.
“W-Who is it?” Pam inquired in a wary tone.
Finally, Aisha and Nereus stepped into the light. “Aisha! Nereus! You're alright. We thought you'd been captured, too!”
“Yes, we were captured.” Aisha said, she kneels before the Pixie’s cage.
“By that horrible creature?” Amore asked.
“The Phoenix, yes. Luckily though, we were able to escape through the window of our cell.” Nereus stated.
Lockette gasped, she covers her mouth. “Oh no you didn't. That's much too dangerous.”
“How's Piff? Is she okay?” Aisha asked.
“Yes, she's fine.” Amore assured. “You must've been so worried about her.”
Chatta shrugs her shoulders since that’s a given. “Well, yeah she was, after all, she is Aisha’s bonded pixie.”
Tune goes over to the sleeping pixie. “Piff, this no way to greet a visitor. Look up. See who's there.”
Piff wakes up and is happy to see Aisha. She makes noises in happiness as she was a baby.
“Ah! Tootata! Patata! Toota patoota!” She then looks around their cell. “Toota? Toota? Poota!”
Using a bracer, Digit translates it. “She said she's glad to see you, and that she wants ice-cream, she's hungry.”
Aisha lightly chuckles. “Of course, she gets hungry when she's had a good dream.” Nereus clears his throat. “That’s all good and all but there’s no time for chit-chat.”
“You are going to be able to get us out, right?” Chatta said, hopeful.
“I'm not sure how, but I'm not leaving without you guys.” Aisha said.
Aisha tries to use a spell, but it did nothing. “I'm too weak. I have no strength left.”
She looks at Nereus, he shakes his head. “I’m too weak to even try.”
“I think the lock is on that wall.” Lockette stated, she points at the skeletons shaped wall.
“I could be wrong, but I think the one with the glowing eyes may be transferring energy to power the cell.
“Then... maybe...” Using what magic, she could muster; Aisha hits the skeleton with glowing eyes.
And thankfully, Lockette was right, it was locket and once destroyed the barrier was destroyed as well.
“Yay!
“You did it, Aisha!”
Nereus kneels before his cousin, who was taking deep breathes as she tried to catch her bearings.
Piff crawls towards Aisha telling something in baby language.
“Aisha, are you okay?” Amore asked. “I'll be fine. The Phoenix drained some of my powers that's all.” Aisha said, she stands up. “We should get out of here quickly.” Digit proclaimed.
Chatta gestured to her wings and everyone else’s. “But our wings are covered with that disgusting tar and we can't fly.”
Tune looks at her wings sadly. “My wings are in such bad shape. I look like a mosquito.”
Aisha and Nereus picked up the Pixies. “Everybody ready?” Nereus asked.
All the scared pixies say, “Yes.”
“This is no way for a pixie to travel.” Chatta muttered.
Tune couldn’t agree more. “How undignified!”
Nereus shushes them. “Be quiet, we don’t want the Phoenix and those terrible creatures to hear us.”
Walking out of the room, the group made their way through the dark halls of the fortress.
“I won't be able to climb like this. and I'm too weak to fly. Let's find the stairs.”
Aisha and Nereus run through the halls, searching for the stairs. Piff climbs up Aisha's shoulder and falls in her sweater's hat.
Pam whimpers when she hears thundering footsteps. “What was that sound?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.” Aisha panted as they turned a corner. “As long as it’s not that Phoenix loser, I’m good.”
Nereus nodded his head. However, as they ran, they were being watched by the Phoenix, who was watching their every move via clairvoyance.
The Phoenix in question was a man, or he looked like a man for minus his head, he had no flesh on his body whatsoever.
He was a living skeleton in dark blood red clad armor, attached to the back of his arms as well as the four long spikes was long cape that was torn into singular parts and glowed red.
He wore a bird inspired helmet that covered everything but his mouth, revealing that his skin was as black as coal.
And he took great offense at that what Aisha had said.
“What did you call me, fairy? Nobody calls me a loser. Nobody! I am one with fists of iron, eyes of fire, and wit as sharp as a sword, not to mention pretty too!”
He chuckles darkly, while he was amused that these children think they have a chance to escape from his fortress. He was also very peeved that they would even dare such a vain attempt.
“Worthless pixies. You think you are safe with them, but how wrong you are.”
His dark face twisted into a malicious grin as he laughs evilly. “And as for you pesky little fairy, I will stop you and that seafaring brat with my shadow monsters.”
The Phoenix summons the shadow monster, there were three monsters in total.
A Brute Monster, a ginormous, hulking, bipedal creature that had a skeletal outward appearance with skin that had darker and lighter shades of muted mauve.
It has a large head with no eyes and a big mouth full of sharp pointed teeth which excretes a large amount of saliva.
It possesses a pair of pointed protuberances on its back which are curved so they look like wings.
And it had large, razor-sharp claws that looked sharp enough to cut anything into ribbons.
Then there’s the Infernal Mastiff, it is a quadrupedal creature shaped roughly like a dog.
Its skin was dark gray with a coat of spines over its back. Its eyes were blood red, and it had large claws on its feet and spines on the elbows of its forelimbs and hindlimbs.
And finally, the Tar Monster. It was a dark purple creature that that a long serpentine body with four clawed limps, and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.
“Arise, dwellers of the shadows. Heed at the summons of your master. Your prey is headed for the main entrance. To the girl and boy... do what you want, but I need the pixies alive!”
Nereus pushes open a room. “We made it.”
“Affirmative. We've reached the main level.” Digit said. “We'll be able to get outside from here.” Amore muttered.
“Standby, everyone, while I switch on my data-glove, which will enable me to determine...” Suddenly the scanner shuts off. “Oh, a power failure!”
Lockette looks around from her spot-on Aisha’s shoulder and points at the door. “I think that's the exit, but my magic is getting weak too.”
Chatta, who was sitting on Nereus’s shoulder nodded in agreement. “That's right. I feel so drained. I can barely speak any more, that reminds me, did we know that...
“Wait, this isn't a good time. We'll chat later, okay?” Aisha said.
They walked forward into the room when a Brute monster appeared.
The pixies including Aisha and Nereus scream.
They tried to back up but discovered that there was the Infernal Mastiff right behind them.
The Tar monster walks around some furniture and roars, the pixies scream louder.
“Aisha, look…” Lockette points at the Tar Monster, which spat a copious amount of spit at them, knocking Nereus and Aisha back.
Tune groans in disgust once she saw the drool was sticking to her. “Oh, that was so very rude! I got all dirty.”
The Infernal Mastiff shoots the spikes from its back at the group.
Yelping, Aisha, Nereus, and the Pixies quickly got out of the way.
Doing a kick up to get back on their feet, the group ran off, narrowly avoiding the Brute Monster’s claws.
They dodged another attack from the Tar Monster, who spat up more drool but this time it had a greenish tint.
“I don’t think that was drool this time.” Nereus said, feeling sick at the green tinted substance.
“Watch it!” Aisha said when she saw the Brute Monster running towards them.
They jump back, the Brute Monster falls on the ground and into the substance.
And Nereus was right since whatever it was had an adhesive effect.
“One down. Yeah.” Chatta cheered.
“Way to go, guys. He's stuck in that bile.” Pam said.
“That was an awesome and spectacular move. You show 'em guys!” Amore said.
“Let's not celebrate yet.” Lockette said, they’re not out of the woods yet after all.
“Well, at least we can cheer on them. Yay! Go, Aisha and Nereus, go!” Amore cheered.
The Tar monster tries to get them again, but both Nereus and Aisha evaded and as they ran past the monster, they did a half flip over the incoming attacks.
But since both monsters they were standing opposite to each other, their attacks were used against them, and they were destroyed into oblivion.
Aisha and Nereus run out of the room. Chatta and Pam scream as they held onto the tip of Aisha and Nereus’s hair, respectively.
“I am so glad I let you talk me into you giving me those gymnastic lessons.” Nereus muttered.
Aisha smiles at her cousin. “Yeah, at least you decided to stick it out. Unlike your brother.”
“Help.” Lockette cried.
Pushing open another door, to their surprise and elation it was the exit door.
“We're safe.” Aisha said, relieved. But that was short lived since an actual Phoenix had appeared.
“Oh no! It's the Phoenix!”
“Oh my.”
Aisha and Nereus tries to run but they stopped when they saw that there were monsters on the other end of the long hallway.
Landing on the ground, the phoenix turned into armored man. “Foolish children. You barely have the strength to stand. Hand over the pixies.”
Nereus and Aisha glared at him. “Never, I won't let you have them.” The latter hissed.
“No way and no how!” Nereus hissed, he held the pixies tightly.
“I find your meaningless bravery tiresome!” His eyes glowed for a second. “But no matter, time to pay for your mistakes children.”
The Phoenix blasts Aisha and Nereus, sending both them and the Pixies to the floor.
The man then levitates the Pixies from and brought them to him.
However, he was unaware of Piff, who had fallen out of Aisha’s hood but quickly went back inside.
As Nereus and Aisha slowly got up, The Phoenix claws grew bigger and sharper.
He growls as he goes to attack them with his metallic hand. But Aisha managed to use a shield to protect themselves.
The Phoenix retracts his hand, he was shocked that she even managed to do any magic at all.
She should be so drained that using magic should feel like a part of her life force was draining away.
“But how is that possible? You should be too weak.”
Aisha and Nereus stood up. “It's not so easy to beat a fairy!”
“Give us back the Pixies, now!” Nereus ordered.
“I’d rather not.” The Phoenix shoots another ray of dark magic, the cousins managed to dodge it and stood back up.
Chuckling darkly, The Phoenix clenches his fist as tentacles made from shadow shot out from the floor and grabbed them.
“Now, you'll feel the shadow! And it will be the last thing you ever feel.”
“Huh? Oh, no! Ah! No!” With a wave of his hand, the Phoenix held Aisha and Nereus over the edge.
“Goodbye Children.” He drops her off them fortress.
Grabbing the screaming Aisha, Nereus held her close as they fell into the pools of water below.
“No one can survive a fall from this height.” The Phoenix said evilly.
RING! RING!
Zorana gasped as she shot out of the water, she breathes heavily as she takes in the fact that she fell asleep in the tub again.
Groaning, Zorana rubs her head. “What a strange dream.” Getting out of the tub, Zorana dried herself off and got ready, for today is back to school.
After having a lovely breakfast with her aunt Gwyn, Zorana went over to Bloom’s house.
And with some more final goodbyes, they took their leave.
At Alfea, life was bustling around since the faculty along with the students were helping with the annual back to school party.
“Woah, everything looks great. All of Alfea is getting ready for the party.” Kiko and Leroy agree.
“Now, if there’s a party our friends should not be far behind.” Zorana said, looking around for their friends.
“The others, I don't know. Where could they—” Bloom smiles as she spotted Tecna. “Oh, there's Tecna.”
Standing in the quad, Tecna was on a calculator. “2.54 meters still to go.”
Bloom had no idea she was talking about, but she did miss Tecna’s technological speaking, she laughs in amusement.
Hearing music, Zorana and Bloom turns their heads and saw Musa playing a trumpet while other students listen. “Guys, look, Musa is busy with the sound check.”
“She sounds great.” Zorana muttered.
Musa continues to play as Bloom asks her, “Hey Musa, have you seen Flora?”
“Yeah. She's with her flowers, of course.” Bloom and Zorana raised an eyebrow since that doesn’t answer their question.
Musa points to the building. “She’s in the cafeteria.” She clarified.
“Thanks Musa.” Bloom and Zorana take their leave and found Flora still in the cafeteria, decorating it.
“Hi Flora.” Bloom greeted, she smiled at all the beautiful flowers. “This place looks amazing. You've outdone yourself this time.”
“You think so, really?” Flora said, hopeful.
“You want some help?” Zorana offered. “That's alright, I've got everything under control.” Flora assured.
Bloom was a little bummed out, but she quickly perks up. “Oh, oh well then, maybe Stella needs some help with her chores. You seen her?”
“Last I heard, she was off to do something "of utmost importance”.” Flora said.
“She’s probably in her room them.” Zorana translated.
Leaving the cafeteria, they traveled to their room.
However, when they got there, they heard the Fairy of the Sun and Moon yell something they wouldn’t expect from her.
“I hate fashion!”
Sharing a look, Bloom and Zorana looked back at Stella’s door and slowly opened it. They were shocked at how messy her room was with clothes thrown about.
“Whoa! What's wrong?” Bloom asked.
“I have a major case of fashion-block!” Stella cried.
Zorana and Bloom raises an eyebrow. “What is fashion-block?” Bloom asked.
Stella walks over with clothes in both hands and a dress in her mouth.
The latter which she dropped so she could speak. “Huh? Hello?! It's a sudden, tragic inability to be stylish.”
“Oh.”
“I learned so many new fashion rules at my summer internship at favorite magazine, Teen Fairy that I'm just overwhelmed.” Stella cried; she fell to her knees. “I don't know what to wear!”
“Hold on, I thought you were all about fashion rules? You're the one who's like, "when you wear a short skirt, you should really mess up your hair".”
Stella stands up. “This is different! Bloom, please you’ve got to help me!”
“Why don’t you help me?” Stella asked.
“What can I help you with?” Bloom inquired.
“Bloom, we may have different taste in clothes, but you still have a good sense of style. That impromptu dress you made last year is proof of that.”
Zorana spares Bloom a glance. “She got a point.”
Bloom shakes her head. “Just make a decision and then you'll feel better. You're the fashion star after all.” Bloom said.
“Anyway, I gotta go. I need to help with the party.” Stella reached out to Bloom as she began taking her leave. “No, don't go!
“Stella, your outfits are fine.” Bloom said.
“I really need your help.” Stella whined.
“Whatever you wear, you always look great. Trust me.” Stella whines. “But it's been so long since I went to a party with Brandon. I totally forgot which dresses he's already seen me in!”
“Stella, Brandon is crazy about, so it won’t matter what you wear.” Zorana said, she shrugs. “Besides, have you ever thought that he may have a favorite outfit that he likes to see you wear?”
“A favorite outfit?” Stella repeated, she was confused, she’s never heard about a guy having a favorite outfit of his girlfriends.
“Yeah, while some guys know next to nothing about fashion, there is always that one outfit that their partner wears that really turns them on.” Zorana winks. “You know what I mean.”
Stella’s face flushes red, getting the picture. “But I don’t know what outfit of mine would be Brandon’s favorite.” Zorana shrugs. “Well, then you’ll just have to ask him.”
“Until then, I suggest that you find the best dress you have that will certainly make you be the center of attention. And will 100% guarantee that Brandon won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
She waves goodbye. “Anyways, my clothes aren’t going to unpack themselves, later.”
Leaving Stella’s room, Bloom unpacks as well before leaving the dorm itself.
As she turned a corner, she totally missed Faragonda as she turns into the hallway on the other side with Diaspro and guards carrying the rest of her luggage.
“I am happy that you went through with your transfer Princess Diaspro.” Faragonda stated, she stops at the Winx’s dorm.
“My parents wanted to pull me out. But thankfully, my nanny managed to convince them.”
Opening the door, they walked in. Hearing the door opened, Stella peeked out hopefully, “Hey, is that you Blo—" Her eyes widened when she saw that it was Diaspro.
But Stella being stella quickly got over that and instead paid attention to her gorgeous outfit.
She had gotten rid of her headband tiara and replaced it with a regular headband of the same color. And her makeup was relatively the same.
Which was a white cream, cold shoulder jacket with a golden buckle belt and diamond shape surgeon's cuff buttons made of rubies. Around her neck she had on a jasper tassel necklace, and on her wrist was a golden bracelet. She wore ruby red shorts, dark knee length stockings, dark ruby red pumps.
Stella whistled as she walks out of her room. “Now that’s an outfit.”
“Princess Stella.” Diaspro greeted.
Faragonda clears her throat. “Now Stella, from here on out Princess Diaspro will be you’re new dormmate.”
“Sweet, she can room with Zorana but if she wants, she could use the other single bedroom.” Stella said.
Diaspro perks up at the idea of rooming with Zorana. “I’ll take the former.”
Remembering which door led to Zorana’s room, Diaspro walked in. “Zora.” Zorana looked at her in shock. “Dia? What are—” She noticed the suitcase. “Wait, are you moving into my dorm?”
“Yes.” Diaspro walks past her and set her suitcase on her bed. After setting down her luggage, the servants began to unpack it all.
Zorana and Leroy stared at this shocked that she’s not lifting a finger, even Stella puts in effort to unpack her stuff.
Once the servants were done, they bowed and bid Diaspro farewell.
Elsewhere, Bloom tried to help out but so far everyone had everything under control. So now, she was just aimlessly walking around with Kiko and eating peanuts.
“Well since nobody needs our help, we'll just get busy with these peanuts.”
As she turns a corner, she spots a tiny seahorse with wings flying around. “Huh, what was that?” She said, shocked at the strange creature.
She soon begins to coo at how cute it is. “Hey there. Aren't you a cutie!” She kneels before it. “Don't worry, I won't hurt you. What a nice little magic pet you are. Come, hop on little guy.”
Animal flies off but Bloom was not about to let it get away. “Hey, come here…” Diving after it, Bloom managed to catch it. “…Gotcha!” The seahorse shimmies out of her hold. “Oops!”
Looking at Bloom, the seahorse’s eyes glowed as it used magic Bloom fall off the carpet. “Uh, what? Hey!”
The seahorse hums as it flies quickly as an escape. “Hey wait.” Bloom gets up and follows the creature.
As she walked through the hall, Bloom was very unfamiliar with the layout.
“I don't think I've ever been here before.” She looks around. “I'm not sure where I am but I think I'm getting near the southwest tower. Oh, I bet he went down here. Where is he?” Bloom muttered.
Stopping in her tracks, Bloom scans the area and just as she was about to give up, she had to do a double take.
Hanging on the wall was a portrait, however, the glass was so clean that it was like a mirror. Which showed that she was standing right next to a door.
Blinking in confusion, Bloom turns her head and saw nothing there. She was confused on how the glass could reflect something that isn’t there when it finally hit her.
This area must be enchanted with an illusion spell. And someone forgot to enchant the glass.
Professor Palladium told her class something similar during their magic reality exams. The illusion may trick the eyes or the mind, but it can’t trick a mirror.
She walks closer to the wall; she looks back at the portrait. “Hm, a door? It would be about here.”
Placing her hand, Bloom grasped the invisible doorknob and opened the door.
Bloom’s jaw dropped at the sight before her, which was a beautiful library with shelves of books on the walls. “Wow!”
The seahorse looked at her in shock, not expecting her to find this place. It then whistled, resulting in a blonde-haired pixie in a blue robe and pointed hat to come flying down.
Crossing her arms, she looked at Bloom sternly. “Well, what've you got to say for yourself?”
Instead of feeling ashamed, Bloom was still in awe. “This place is incredible! I mean the Alfea library is nothing compared to this! I wonder why I've never heard about it?”
“That's because no one is supposed to know about it.” The Pixie proclaimed.
“Look at you. First, you torment my Hippocampus Pixie Pet, and then you sneak into Alfea's Forbidden Magic Archive.”
Bloom rubs her head. “I'm trying hard to wrap my head around this.”
The Pixie snaps fingers, a mat with a table and chair appeared.
“I am the Pixie Concorda, the Pixie of Knowledge.” The Seahorse and a small red panda with wings showed up. “And these two magical animals are my friends.”
“How cute!” Bloom cooed. “You know, it's my job to take care of the Magic Archive for Faragonda. And to keep out nosy students.”
“Should I leave?”
“Well, you could at least introduce yourself.” Concorda said.
“My name is Bloom and I got here by accident. But hey, what's a pixie?” Bloom asked.
She cleared her throat. “I mean, I know that the witches call us that, but I always took it as a figure of speech.”
“My dear, we pixies are beings of magic, and we often help fairies fight evil and perform their spells.” Concorda proclaimed.
“You help fairies?” Bloom said, awed.
“Yes, in fact some fairies and pixies form deep connections, a bit like falling in love. Then the 2 become inseparable, like twin siblings.”
In Bloom’s opinion, it sounds like a fairy’s version of a familiar. “Really?”
“We refer to this as "bonding," and it's a very special thing for pixies.”
“I wish I had a pixie of my own.” Bloom mused. “What about you? Are you bonded to Faragonda?” She then asked.
Concorda shakes her head. “No no no! I am bonded to this archive.”
“Don't you get lonely bonded to a room?” Bloom asked.
“No, not me. Besides, I have magical animals to cheer me up and keep me company. They are called pixie pets! They live with us and lend us their talents.”
“Wow.” Hearing a bell ringing, Bloom realizes the time. “Oh no! The time!”
“What's wrong?” Concorda asked.
“Big trouble. I'm going to be late for the party.” Bloom said.
“Then go now! Your friends, they must be waiting for you. And please, do not breathe a word about this room to anyone!”
“I won’t!” Bloom runs out of the secret library.
Meanwhile in the central courtyard of Alfea, the Winx and a reluctant Diaspro were waiting for Bloom. And since it is a party, minus Diaspro, they all had changed into a new set of clothes.
“The party is starting.” Flora said, wondering if Bloom is running late again.
Stella huffs. “This is ridiculous.”
“What could be taking Bloom so long?” Flora wondered.
“I'm sick of waiting already. After all, I'm the one who's supposed to be fashionably late.” Stella stated.
“Besides, I want us all to be together when the boys arrive.” Stella proclaimed.
“I have a theory that beauty enhances beauty, if I'm surround by the four of you, I'll look four times as beautiful. She'll ruin it all!”
“Don't worry, Stella, you look good!” Flora complimented.
Stella huffs again. “Good's not good enough! One should never settle when it comes to beauty potential.”
Rolling her eyes, Diaspro looked at Zorana, who was sitting on the grass sketching in a notebook.
She looks over her shoulder, and she was drawing Nereus.
She smirks. “Who’s that, your boyfriend?” Glancing at Diaspro, Zorana summons a pillow and drops it on her head. “Oof! Hey!”
“No, you know the guy that I told you about, the one I’ve been dreaming about since spring break las year?” Zorana reminded.
Huffing, Diaspro removes the pillow from her head. “Yeah?”
“Well, this is him. However, admittedly my latest dream is way different from the others.” Diaspro raises an inquiring eyebrow. “Different how?”
“Well, usually when I see him, he was a merman, but in my latest dream. He was just a man.”
“And he was with this girl, crawling up the side of a castle carved out of rock and suspended in the air.”
She further explains what she saw in her dream, and Diaspro listened intently.
“That’s an interesting dream.” Diaspro muttered.
“Hey guys!” Bloom called out.
Everyone looked to see Bloom arriving, hopping towards them on one foot as she tried to get her shoe on.
“Sorry I'm late.” Bloom apologized. “And not a minute too soon.” Stella proclaimed.
“What happened to you? Are you OK?” Flora asked. “Yes Flora.” Bloom stands up and chuckles. “But I think I just shattered the land speed record for changing clothes.”
Kiko is flying towards the Winx with Bloom's hairband, where he then places it on her head.
“Thanks, Kiko.” She looks at her friends. “How do I look. Is my hair, ok?”
Stella gives her a skeptical look. “Can I say something?”
“Sure.” Bloom looks down at herself before turning around. “It's the skirt, isn't it? Uh I tried...”
Walking over, Stella helps out Bloom. “Hold still a minute, hon. I'm the fairy of beauty for a reason.”
As Bloom stood there, she took notice of Diaspro. “Oh, Diaspro.”
Hearing her name, the blonde fairy looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
Bloom smiles awkwardly. “Uh…hi.” She greeted. “Hmm, hello.” Diaspro greeted, but it was obviously forced.
Musa perks up when she heard a familiar sound in the distance, which only got closer.
“Listen. Recognize that sound?” She said, alerting the others.
The girls perked up as well. “It sounds like the Specialists.” Flora said.
“Hurry up, Stella.” Bloom said, becoming antsy.
“Hold on. You can't rush perfection, you know. Now hold still, your ruffles need more ruffling.” Stella said.
Getting up, Zorana and Diaspro went to the front with Flora, Tecna, and Musa.
“They're coming.” Flora said happily.
Stella and Bloom soon joined them. “Where? Who? When?”
“That's funny. I'm sure I heard something.” Musa said, confused on why there’s no one around.
“Me too. Could we both be wrong?” Flora began to presume.
“Hey, there they are.” Stella announced, she points to a path on their left.
The boy’s road towards the school on their Wind Riders, and given how they were acting, it was clear they were having a race.
Brandon picks up the pace, but Sky still managed to be neck and neck with him.
“Sky!” Bloom said happily.
Diaspro grits her teeth but sighed as she holds in her annoyance.
“Go Brandon!” Stella cheered.
Riven butts in between them and sped up, leaving them in his dust. And in the end, this win was his.
“Oh, what a jerk!” Stella remarked.
“Riven almost hit them!” Flora muttered.
“Maybe he was showing the guys a new maneuver.” Musa suggested, she laughs.
“Hi!” Brandon greeted.
Riven smirks at Sky. “Oh, come on, Sky, you're the one who said you wanted to make a splashy entrance!”
“And it also looks like you guys are gonna have to do all my chores this week.” Riven fist pumps. “Yeah!”
“Okay.” Sky replied.
Bloom walks over to Sky and asked, “Sky! Are you okay?”
“Of course.” Sky grasps her hand. “Besides, a smooth landing would have been a little bit too predictable, don't you think?”
Bloom chuckled. “So, how was your summer.”
“It would have been better if I could have seen you. You're even more beautiful than I remembered.” Sky flirted.
Bloom turns a few shades of red but her sweet moment with Sky was ruined when Diaspro fakes coughs, getting their attention.
Color drains from Sky’s face, he had completely forgot about Diaspro transferring to Alfea.
“Oh uh…hi, Diaspro.” He said, he sighs since he knows that was a lame greeting.
Growling under her breath, Diaspro walks back into the courtyard.
“Stupid Sky, stupid Bloom.” She muttered bitterly under her breath.
Marching forward, Diaspro accidentally steps on a banana peel.
Gasping, Diaspro begins to fall backwards but before she could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms circle around her waist, stopping her. “Whoa, easy there.”
Looking up, Diaspro see that it was a handsome, muscular boy around her age.
His hair navy blue hair that styled similarly to Riven’s except that his hair was much wilder and had sideburns. His skin was fair, and his eyes were a light hazel.
“You, okay?” The guy asked. “I am, now please, put me down.” The guy straightens her to her feet.
Grabbing the peel, he scoffs. “Some people need to learn to pick up their trash!” The boy throws the peel into the nearby trash can. “See you later, gorgeous.” He winks at her before taking his leave.
A shadow pass overhead as Timmy arrives in the Red Fountain ship. “It's Timmy!” Tecna said happily.
“Is that a new aircraft?” Zorana asked, noticing the design looked different. “Yep, that’s the Owl. Due to the funding to rebuilt Red Fountain, we got a whole new set of toys.” Riven said as he got off his bike.
He walks over to her. “That way, if something like the Battle of Magix happens again, we’ll be ready.”
“Hey girls! It's great to see you!” Timmy said as he exits the aircraft. Tecna smiles bashfully at him. “Welcome back to Alfea, Timmy. The squad ship looks great by the way.”
Stella holds Brandon’s arm. “I have to admit I missed you, honeybunny.” Brandon smirks. “I missed you more, cupcake.” Brandon replied.
“Looks like they're about ready to start.” Tecna announced. “Let's get going before we miss something.” Bloom said.
Everyone stood as Faragonda walks to the top of the steps. “Students, professors, welcome!” Faragonda greeted. “Thank you for coming to our back-to-school mixer! What a great start to the year!”
Everyone applauds. “After our struggle against the Army of Darkness, a lot of work needed to be done to restore our school to its former glory.”
“And if we were able to do so, it is largely thanks to the brave efforts of one fairy in particular. Bloom, would you come up here with me on stage please?”
“Me!” Bloom stood there shocked as everyone looked at her. “Well Bloom, that's great!” Flora congratulated.
Musa slightly pushes her forward. “Yeah, you go Bloom! They're waiting for you!”
“No, hang on a second.” Stella removes Bloom's headband.
“Oh yeah, that's more natural! Now you're ready to go and bask in the spotlight, girlfriend.” Stella proclaimed.
“Now, stand up straight and remember to smile. Your smile is your most outstanding feature.”
“No way! We're the Winx. We're all in this together. I could never have done it without you guys!”
“Haha! Do you mean it?” Stella said, touched. “That's right! We're all going on stage.” Bloom proclaimed.
Stella gives some girls Bloom's headband. “Here, hold this, would you? I’m needed.”
Zorana looked at Diaspro, who smiled. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” Nodding, Zorana walked on stage with the girls.
“And now, I declare the Alfea School for Fairies open! Moreover, let me unveil our new Dragon Fire wing! Release the magic doves!”
The crowd claps as the new tower is unveiled, the cloth withering away into golden doves that flew off into the horizon.
“I hope the whole school year's gonna be like this.” Bloom said.
“Me too!” Flora agreed.
Meanwhile in the Phoenix’s fortress, he was interrogating the frightened pixies. On his table was Lockette, Digit, and Pam. “You will tell me the location of the Pixie Village.”
“You are not authorized to access our data.” Digit said trying to be brave despite the fact that just like Lockette and Pam, she was shaking like a leaf.
The Phoenix laughs as he gets in their face. “Really?!”
“Hey, leave my friends alone, you bully!” Chatta yelled, she quickly realizes her mistake and puts her hands over her mouth. “Oh!”
“Very well!” The Phoenix uses a spell and puts Lockette, Pam, and Digit to sleep.
“Lockette! Pamela! Digit!” Chatta cried before even she began to grow weak. “Ah!”
“Excellent! That's invigorating! I can already feel the strength of your powers. Your magic is mine!”
He looks at the other Pixies, who shiver in fear and huddled up together as The Phoenix walked closer. “Now then, it's your turn.”
“I'll go through you all one by one until you tell me where your village is. That's where you've hidden the Codex, isn't it?”
“Leave them alone!” Chatta said weakly.
Growing annoyed, The Phoenix growls as he uses his powers to remove his levitation spell on Chatta.
She then falls onto the table, and she tried to get up, but she was just too weak. “Now speak...” Chatta looks t him fearfully. “...or suffer!
Back at Alfea, the party was still going on, but right now the Specialist and the Winx were in the second courtyard.
Blooms was sitting on the stairs, lost in her own thoughts. “Bloom, you're very quiet. Is everything okay?” Sky asked.
“I'm fine, Sky. I just had a little adventure.” Bloom answered.
“What?! There was trouble and you didn't call your neighborhood Prince Charming?!” Sky said jokingly.
“Well, not every adventure involves monsters.” Bloom clarified.
Sky tilts his head; he was curious now. “What happened?”
Bloom was about to tell him, but she remembered the promise she made. “Well, actually it's a funny story, and I kinda promised not to tell anyone.”
“Hey! Am I just "anyone" to you then?” Sky asked teasingly.
“Oh, hahahahaha!” Bloom laughs sarcastically.
Bloom looks head where the others were, and she could some of the things Stella was saying to the others.
“And on top of it all, she had on this absolutely horrendous T-shirt, and it was about...”
“But I have a feeling that this will be the year when I finally learn the truth about my birth parents.” Bloom stated.
“Well, you can count on the Specialists and the Winx to help you.” Sky declared.
“So, what did you do over the summer?” Bloom asked.
“We spent it on an island retreat, it was a real treat.” Diaspro said as she walks down the stairs and past Bloom. She waves at Zorana as she sat next to her.
Bloom looks at Sky inquiringly. “You spent your summer together?”
“Yeah, our families both decided to vacation on the same island. In total honesty, I think it was a ploy for me to reinstate my engagement to Diaspro.”
Bloom frowns, she should have expected this. She may be the Keeper of the Dragon Flame, but Diaspro is still a princess of a kingdom that she can rule.
So, in the eyes of Sky’s parents, no matter if Bloom is the Fairy of the Dragon Flame, Diaspro is the better choice.
Moreover, there is also the fact that it was also a political marriage that both families put a lot of work in so they could succeed, so simply letting it go would be a waste.
Sky placed his hand on hers. “Don’t worry Bloom, it was a complete failure. There was no canoodling whatsoever.”
Bloom smiles but when she looked at Diaspro, she frowns both in sadness and sympathy.
“Did you see her outfit? That red hat made her look like a fire hydrant.” Stella said, everyone except Riven laughs.
Zorana, who was sitting next to him pokes his cheek. “You should smile more you know.”
Riven smirks. “And ruin my bad boy edge that makes the ladies go wild? I’ll pass.” Zorana snorted and covered her mouth.
Stella looks at Tecna and Timmy, who had finally returned. “Look who's here! Care to tell where you two have been hiding?”
“Tecna was showing me how to calibrate the simulator.” Timmy answered.
“Yeah, right. Do I even have to say anything at this point?” Stella said, she winks at Tecna.
Blushing, Tecna awkwardly coughs and looks away. And Timmy did the same once it hit him what Stella meant.
“And yet, you always do. It just wouldn't be Stella if she didn't have the last word.” Musa stated.
Brandon looks up at the sky. “Hey, it's getting late. We need to be heading back to Red Fountain.”
The girls groaned but understood, giving them a last farewell, the boys left.
As they flew off, Flora stiffened as a strange feeling of nature calling out to her took over.
She looks back at the forest, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. “Hey Bloom.” Bloom stops in her tracks. “Yes?”
“Something's wrong with the trees. I sense a strange disturbance.”
“Bye guys! That was the best party e-” Stella trails off as Bloom walked past her. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”
Ignoring her, Bloom walks towards the forest.
Meanwhile, Aisha whimpers as she pushes past the leaves of the trees to the side, huffing with every step as she drags Nereus’s limp body.
She huffed as her vision went hazy, but she pressed on when she saw Alfea within her sights.
Spotting her, Bloom gasped as Aisha walks out of the foliage, shivering and crying and her clothes all tattered.
And Nereus wasn’t any better, especially since he was unconscious with blood dripping down from the side of his head. “Look!”
“My goodness are you okay?!” She asked them.
Diaspro and Zorana stared at the two with dropped jaws. “Zora is that—” Zorana runs right past her as the final bit of Adrenaline that was keeping Aisha going left her body.
She shook for a few more seconds before she fainted and fell to the ground.
The other Winx gasped and quickly ran over to Bloom and Zorana as they checked on the two cousins.
“Are they alright?” Musa asked.
Tecna sends her ladybug towards Aisha and Nereus to analyzed them.
“They’re fine. The girl is just exhausted. But the boy, he’s alive but it’s clear that he suffered a blow to a head. He has a high chance of a concussion.”
Bloom and Flora propped Aisha up. “Come on, wake up. Come on, come on.” Piff falls out of Aisha's hoodie, snoring away without a care in the world.
“Ugh, what is that?” Stella said.
Bloom carefully picks Piff up. “Looks like... a pixie. It is! It's a pixie!” She was in awe that she was seeing another Pixie, especially one so fast.
She looks at Aisha, now there was various inquiries running through her head.
“But why would she have a pixie? Who is this girl and boy? What could have happened to her?”
Zorana stayed quiet, still trying to comprehend everything. What is going on here? She thought these two were just a figment of her imagination.
Moreover, given that they’re wearing the same clothes in her dream, she wonders if her dreams were even dreams to begin with?
