Chapter 1: Barriers

It hasn't been that long since the Winx had defeated Valtor. Surprisingly, he survived, but lost all his powers. No one could find it in them to kill a defenseless man, instead, it was decided he would work at Alfea as punishment. He had been a servant at Alfea since then, as the fairies bullied him mercilessly, except one... Femke was a fairy of the Voortrix, someone with great power who couldn't find it in her to be like that against another person, no matter how vile his crimes. Valtor didn't seem to mind too much. For every snipe, he had a comeback. For every prank he managed to get revenge. This meant he would be in trouble with Griselda, who kept preaching about good behavior, as if it would matter.

Months passed and it became painfully obvious to Valtor that his revenge schemes only made things worse. He kept retaliating the jokes thrown his way, but slowly and surely, the old Valtor, the greatest wizard of all time, started to fade away...

Femke's POV

As the reincarnation of The Great Feria and a holder of an amazing power, you'll have a lot of responsibility. I knew Valtor was a bad person and that he commit many crimes, but he shouldn't be treated badly, right? Weren't fairies supposed to do what's right? And what is with Griselda? I knew she was strict, but this was ridiculous. She didn't do a thing about it. I watched as Valtor took his revenge and enjoyed their misery. I laughed at the jokes and could get into why he were doing it. But on the other hand it was too bad he didn't see he could do so much more. He had some power of the Dragonflame in him. He could do so much with that. Become almost as powerful as she is...bloom... Everyone would worship him, not as a bad person, but as a powerful wizard who would use his powers for good.

"Yo, Emily! How many Valtors do you need to switch a light bulb?" Femke could hear one of the first year fairies named Tasha ask Emily, a Senior.

"How many?" The girl asked with obvious fake curiosity. Emily was one of the most popular girls from last year, not counting the Winx girls, but also arrogant, unlike them and probably wouldn't give a first year the time of day unless she needed someone to bounce a joke about Valtor off of. Emily just wanted to be part of the group, Just as match as Lucy wanted to join the Trix, when they were still at cloud tower.

"None! He's so stupid he probably has no idea how it works!" Both girls cackled while they walked towards the next class. They passed Valtor, who was on his knees scrubbing the floor and Emily accidentally stepped on his hand. Valtor made his pain know with a yelp. "Oh, sorry. Totally saw you there." She said, laughing as she ground her high heel in his hand one more time. Valtor didn't show his discomfort. He just smirked, ready for retaliation.

"Very funny. Say, you heard the one about the fairies who kept pestering the powerful wizard?" He asked, smirking. The two girls looked at each other, unsure, before shaking their heads. I smiled and leaned in so that I could hear correctly. I heard Valtor had the best come-backs in the school. "Nobody knows. They disappeared after he regained his powers and they were never heard of again." With that, Valtor pulled a terrifying face. I saw the girls run and scream in fear and had to refrain myself from laughing out loud, it was just too funny. I knew they were going to tell Griselda and he'd get another preach. Still, it was hilarious to see them run, afraid he could really hurt them. When they were gone I stopped laughing and approached Valtor. I knew I had to act fast to help with his hand. I knew I probably shouldn't, but something... deep inside... felt good in Valtor. As if there was still a man underneath that monster. A man nobody saw.

"Come here, I can cure your hand with my magic." I told him in a friendly manner, holding out my hand for help.

Valtor's POV

THREE YEARS! It's been THREE YEARS ago that those GODDAMN fairies made me a slave on their GODDAMN school! What?! Do they really think that they can turn the greatest wizard of all into a doormat? It won't happen. I can already see them raging as I contact my mistresses and reclaim my power! The great wizard Valtor will rise again! As I raged internally, I saw the little girl that laughed at my jokes approaching me. And I recognized her instantly.

"She used to hang out with Icy, Darcy and Stormy! Going as far as calling herself the fourth Trix. What is she doing at Alfea? Keeping an eye on me? Keeping the Trix updated for their amusement?" I muttered. I could remember the voices of Icy and her sisters negotiating. They figured I didn't hear them, but they were dead wrong. I am Valtor. The Greatest Wizard of all time. I hear, see and know ALL.

Flashback

"Did you see what happened?" Icy asked her sisters in a whisper. Darcy nodded and Stormy, the youngest, even shook a little.
"Yeah, that was, like, super creepy." She shakily said.
"I can't believe we were fighting about him, Sisters. First Darkar and now him. Why do we always end up with losers?"
Loser? Ha! I am stronger then they think. A 'loser' wouldn't come this close to ultimate power.

End Flashback

'Like I care what those wenches think of me. I can do without them.' Were my taughts while I placed a bucked of water on top of a door. Childish, sure, but without magic and surrounded by powerful warriors, I couldn't do much harm. This was the only way to get back. In the beginning, I could still see the fun, but ever since the fairies figured out that they can complain to Griselda about me, it wore off quickly. She keeps preaching about 'good behavior' every time they complain. I usually just tune them out and was thinking of other ways to get back at them. No one degrades me. No one!

Sighing, I knelt down and started mopping the floor. This... didn't help my confidence.
"Yo, Emily! How many Valtors do you need to switch a light bulb?" I heard a last year fairy ask a first year.
"How many?" The other girl asked with played curiousity. I saw trough her faked interest quite clearly.
"None! He's so stupid he probably has no idea how it works!" Both girls screeched with laughter as they walked off. One of them stepped on my hand. "Oh sorry, totally saw you there." She said, laughing as she ground her heel into my hand for good measure. It hurt, but I didn't offer her the pleasure of seeing me in pain. I managed a smile and already knew a comeback.

"Very funny. Say, you heard the one about the fairies who kept pestering the powerful wizard?" I asked, smiling. They looked at each other insecurely before shaking their heads. "Nobody knows. They disappeared after he regained his powers and they were never heard of again." At this point I made a terrifying face as they ran off and I laughed despite my hurting hand. When done with laughing I grabbed the mop again and continued my mundane task, another pair of feet in front of me after a short while. I half expected Griselda with yet another preach about 'behavior'. But it was Femke, the self-called 'Trix girl'.

"Come here, I can cure your hand with my magic." She said, extending her hand. I just scowled at it with disgust. I don't want help. Especially not from a lowlife, disgusting fairy.

"I don't need help, thank you." I told her, looking at her with disdain. She quickly retreated her hand, afraid I might do something with it. Then she just... knelt down and grabbed my hand without asking as she used her magic to heal it. "I told you I don't need your damn help!" I said, furious. How dare she touch me? I don't need help from anyone, let alone a fairy.

"I helped because I wanted to. Everyone needs help from time to time. Maybe if you'd get off your high horse, you'd understand." She said with sweetness that just had to be faked as she turned around and walked away. She froze at the door when she saw Griselda approach me, eyes dark and ready for another , I continued my work, hoping she would just let me be. She drove me insane. Once I was back to power, she would be the first to pay.

"Griselda, please. Those girls were egging him on."

I heard Femke say. I looked up and saw Femke inbetween me and Griselda.

"Miss Cartmaker, if you don't want to get in trouble, I suggest you stay out."

Griselda told her with ice in her voice. Femke kept with her, determined. I didn't understand her stubborn behavior. She would only get herself in trouble.

"Why won't you listen?! He didn't start this." She said, awfully determined. The girls, who were still there for some reason, just looked at each other, surprised. That made three, Griselda counting, four of us. What was she doing?! Why didn't she just leave things alone?! I just picked up the mop and bucket I was using and prepared to get some new soap. I just knew these fairies were as sloppy as possible to make my job more difficult and Griselda more angry. She was horrible. Griffin could learn a thing or two, but then again, she did betray the darkness for the light. Chances are, I would've ruled by now if she didn't betray me. We could've ruled together. No.. No, don't think like that. Focus on the now. Focus on your work...

"Miss Cartmaker, I'm warning you one last time. I will send you to Faragonda if you keep going like this." Griselda told the girl with a warning glare in her eyes. But Femke kept going, taking a stand between me and Griselda. I growled. Like I needed her protection. I had conquered planets. I didn't need help, and certainly not of a fairy.

"I know what he did was wrong. Really wrong." She started, sighing. "But I also know there's good in every heart. I can feel it... He has an ember of the Dragonflame in him. I know that if he could just... drop his façade of arrogance, he could be as powerful as bloom." I looked up as she said this. Still as powerful as Bloom? But my powers left me. Blocked until I could summon my mistresses...

"That monster doesn't have any powers and no heart, either. He's useless, cruel and deserves no more then what he has gotten." She said with a sly grin as I growled and got up. Even at this point, I would NOT be insulted by her!

Femke's POV

"Why won't you listen?! He didn't start this." I told Griselda, determined. I didn't want Valtor to be blamed for something he didn't do. He was evil, I knew. He probably didn't want help from a fairy. But he still didn't deserve to be treated like this.

"Miss Cartmaker, if you don't want to get in trouble, I suggest you stay out." Griselda said and I got a warning look. She wouldn't get rid of me that easily. I took a stand between her and Valtor.

"I know what he did was wrong. Really wrong." I started, sighing. This was going to be difficult, but it was my duty to protect those that needed me. Even if they don't want it, like Valtor. "But I also know there's good in every heart. I can feel it... He has an ember of the Dragonflame in him. I know that if he could just... drop his façade of arrogance, he could be as powerful as bloom." I said why I smiled at Valtor. He just seemed perplexed. I felt that he knew I was only trying to help. Griselda just grinned.

"That monster doesn't have any powers and no heart, either. He's useless, cruel and deserves no more then what he has gotten." She said with an angry look in her eyes. Valtor rose behind me with a snarl. I gently took him to prevent him from attacking Griselda. I could feel him fight with all his might because he wanted to hurt Griselda for what she said. I just made calm, hushing noises, it seemed to work as I led him to his living quarters. I only let go as the door closed.

"Better now?" I asked, he just looked away and crossed his arms.
"I guess." He muttered, looking at me sideways with his blue eyes...
Those eyes!

I've seen them before as they looked at me with almost completely hidden hurt. But where? Suddenly, something horrifying came to me.

Flashback

"He's beautiful, Najira. How are you going to call him?" A younger Femke asked her friend, Najira. They met when still living on the streets and since then they were best friends. So of course Femke was the first to know Najira was pregnant. And after Nine months, a son was born. A beautiful blue-eyed, blonde-haired son.
"I was thinking about... Valtor." Najira said, smiling as she held her son. The little one was also smiling as he pulled Femke's hair.
"Ow! He's strong already! I feel sorry for his godparents." She said, laughing as she pried herself loose.
"I didn't figure you as one to have a lot of self-pity, Fem." Naijira joked, prodding her friend. Femke just looked at her with wide eyes.
"You... You mean I get to be a godparent?" She asked, disbelieving. Naijira simply nodded, as Femke hugged her and her godchild.
"Thank you... I won't let you down. Promise." She said, stroking the young boy's hair.

End Flashback

I gasped when I looked back at Valtor. His eyes were the same! Could it be that Valtor was him? Or was it a coïncidence?

Valtor's POV

When I was going to challenge Griselda, two slender hands suddenly help me. Had to be that Trix wannabe. She held me and took me to my room. She tried to calm me with a song, of all things. Did sound familiar, tough, for some reason. It did help, but she only let go of me when I closed the door.

"Better now?" She asked. As if she would care. No one does. I just crossed my arms and huffed.
"I guess." I said, looking at her sideways. This... caused her eyes to widen in surprise.

'NOW what's wrong with her?' I taught when I sat on my bunk of a bed. Yeah, they kept me in a decent, but small room. This was no place for a grand Wizard. Just wait until I have my powers back. They would pay! I looked at Femke who finally came out of her flashback. I almost entertained the idea she'd space out forever.
'Then who'll keep Griselda off my ass?' Some little voice inside me said. I just shook my head and watched as the girl took something from her bag. 'I don't need her. I'm the most powerful wizard of all. I can take care of myself.'

She took a seat next to me and gave me a cupcake.
"Here, you're probably not getting much in the way of sweets." She said with a friendly smile. I just stared at the cupcake. Did she really think I'd take it? Just because... I stopped there as I took it. I wasn't being starved by any means, but they weren't exactly giving me five star meals. And I usually DID leave most, just in case they poisoned . I didn't do anything with it." She said with a tooth-rotting sweetness. I had the desire to just toss her out. I didn't need her help. Stupid Trix wannabe. Again I was thinking of the days things were better for me. When I almost had my goal. She had to show up and try to convince the Trix to get away from me. As if she could do that. As if she could pry them away from me and my power. I had them in my grasp. But unfortunately, they decided to abandon me.

Flashback

"Why don't you join us? With Valtor by our side, the whole universe will be ours!" Icy asked while grinning at their 'friend'. The brown-haired girl just shook her head sadly.

"I am the reincarnation of Feria, protector of the voortrix's flame. I can't use my powers for evil. I'm sorry." She said, turning around and leaving.

"I know it will be a bit new for you, but you could really help us out. Be a real Trix." I tried. She just turned around and looked me straight in the eyes. Something went trough me as she did so. As if I saw her before. But I can't remember where.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to end up in the Omega Dimension. Or worse..." She shuddered at the idea. We may not have a Death Penalty in Magix, but some realms got... creative with their punishments.

"Go ahead and leave. A coward like you will never become part of us." Icy called out, crossing her arms. It was clear she didn't like it when someone turned against her. I just looked at her and then at the girl as she left in the forest. She looked around one last time and I could see tears. Weakling. Why was she crying? It was her own damn choice to abandon this. That was what I taught as she transformed into a voortrix fairy and dissapeared. I never talked to Icy about it. We both disregarded it as a waste of our time. She probably didn't even care for the tears.

End Flashback

After that the Trix abandoned me and the Winx defeated me. Damn cowards fled and ran right into the hands of the Light Rock Monestary they ran from. I hate the Winx... I wish I could destroy them. Musing about that, I looked at Femke, who was just waiting until I was finished. She probably didn't care about the others and what they would think if they saw her helping me. Again I taught about that moment she left. Must've been my imagination.
"Femke. Did you cry when you left us the first time?" I asked as aloof as possible. Trying to act as if I didn't care.

Femke's POV

"Femke. Did you cry when you left us the first time?"

I looked up surprised when I heard that question. Did he see that? Did he care? I briefly touched Feria's medallion I had hanging around my neck. She was right. In each person was something good, even if they don't show it.
"That was... yes... I cried... I was upset that they wouldn't join me. Back to my village." I said as another memory claimed me. The day that changed my life forever.

Flashback

"This is all YOUR fault, Stormy! If you didn't break my concentration this wouldn't have happened!" The girl with the dark hair yelled at what looked like her little sister.

"Couldn't you see it would happen, Miss Clairvoyant?!" Stormy yelled back at the girl.
"Don't be stupid, Stormy! I need to concentrate when we're teleporting or else we get into things like... this! I can't do that AND watch into the future!" She retorted, rolling her eyes. What was going on? Teleporting? How can people do that?

"Shut up, you two, we got company." Another girl, this one with light blue hair said while she looked at me. The other two also noticed me and looked at me suspiciously. The brown-haired girl came to me and her hands started glowing purple.

"Let's get rid of her. That'll teach her to snoop." She said, approaching me. I started to feel uneasy as the other two approached as well.

"Stay back! I...I got a stick!" I stammered as I grabbed a stick of the ground and held it in front of me. The three girls just grinned as they shot me with some sort of eerie light. I just tried to shield myself as suddenly...

"NO!"

A bright yellow light lit up the surroundings and before I knew it the blue-haired girl was unconscious as her companions just looked at me, flabbergasted.

-
"By the way; I'm Darcy. My little sis here is Stormy and the one you knocked out is Icy. We're Witches coming from the Magical City named Magix." Darcy started. I listened fascinated. A magical city with witches sounded exciting, if not a bit weird.

"There's also Specialists, Wizards, Elves, ugh, Fairies..." Darcy continued listing of. Did she read my mind or something? The purple clothes fitted that for some reason.

"Yes I have psychic powers. As for Stormy and Icy... Well, guess." She said, smirking. I giggled as I laid down Icy on my parents' couch where we were right now as my mother looked at them oddly. Probably worried.
"What are you three doing here on Earth anyway?" I asked, wondering why they'd leave such an amazing place in the first place.

"We crashed because SOMEONE broke my concentration." Darcy said, obviously meaning her sister. She looked outside of a window checking out the environment. I just gawked. Crashed down because she couldn't concentrate. Sounded unpleasant. So magic could go against you? "No worries tough. It happens to the best of us. It will happen to you plenty of times." Darcy said while looking at me. What did she mean? She taught I was a witch? Like them? "Of course you are! You saw what happened. You gotta be a witch if you're that powerful." Darcy answered. I just looked annoyed. Could she stop reading my mind?

"Girls, Icy's awake!" Stormy announced before I could say anything else. Icy sat up groaning and just looked at us.

"What happened? Where are we now?" She asked while looking around. I just sat next to her.
"You're at my place. I... kinda knocked you out with my magic." I said, scratching the back of my head. Icy just glared at me and almost attacked if it wasn't for her sisters stopping her.

"Oh relax, Icy. It was an accident. She clearly doesn't know how to use her powers yet." Darcy said, shoving Icy back on the couch. Icy just grumbled and crossed her arms, not liking being told 'no' by her sister.
"And they're calling me a hothead." Stormy joked, but Icy didn't take it well and soon Stormy was under an avalanche of snow.

"That'll teach her." Icy said, smirking. I snickered at the sight of Stormy trying to get out of the snow. It was childish, but fun to see them playing with their magic. I wanted to learn it, too.
"Anyway, you want to know why we got here? Well, we just got accepted in Cloudtower, school for witches and were on our way until Stormy broke my concentration, bringing us here." Darcy ended her explanation. My mother just looked even more worried. She probably was more amazed then I was.
"What happens now that I have magical powers?" I asked insecurely. I wasn't accepted anywhere, so I couldn't go to school with them, even tough it sounded great. Learning to be a witch?! Only in my wildest dreams!

-

But that dream shattered when I dropped out of Cloudtower in the second year for the lessons being too hard. The Trix were too busy going after the dragonflame to notice.

End Flashback

I shook my head, trying to let it go. It was the right to leave the witches and their thirst for power. I looked at Valtor who sat on his bed, head leaning on his hands. Bored. He must not like this. But it was his own fault really. And compared to his crimes, this was a very light punishment.

"Don't you have a class or something?" Valtor asked me in that same bored tone. I just looked at my watch and realized that, yes, I had class. Ten minutes ago. I needed to go there, but... this seemed more important. I was sure Faragonda would understand. She was a nice, caring woman.

Valtor's POV

"Don't you have a class or something?" I asked, bored and a bit annoyed. I had work to do and she was taking up time by just being spacey and acting like she cared.
"Yes...

14h ago"Yes... I have... ten minutes ago." She said, looking at her watch. It made me feel... strange. Awkward. Like I started to... like her. Ew. I suddenly felt something on me. She was touching me with a worried look.
"You okay? You look a bit pale." She said, pretending to care.
"I'm fine. Go away." I said, bored. I just wanted to be left alone.

"grizelda would come to put me to work in any second now, so I better get some rest while I still...I couldn't finish that sentence as dizziness came over me.

"Valtor? Valtor!" I heard Femke call out before I passed out...

-

That was the first chapter, hope it was enjoyable.

Thanks to user Paranoidgirl for the translation and Beta.

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