Final Exam

This story was written for the entertainment of Winx Club fans, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story may be reproduced, provided no changes are made, and you let me know.

Author's note: This takes place near the end of senior year, after the events of "Losing and Finding".

Chapter 1

At the Cloud Tower School for Witches, an unusual meeting was taking place. Ms. Griffin, the Headmistress, was in the company of her friend and rival, Ms. Faragonda of the Alfea School for Fairies, and Saladin, head of the Red Fountain School for Heroics and Bravery.

Without preamble, Ms. Griffin began her explanation. "I have asked you here because I have heard some disturbing news, and couldn't risk a conference call over the ethereal waves."

Faragonda and Saladin looked at each other, then back at Griffin. She turned away and put her hand on her desk.

"Do you remember Bekisan, one of the planets destroyed by the Ancestral Witches before we intervened as the Company of Light?" she asked.

"Vaguely," replied Saladin, thoughtfully, "I'd never been there before, and we stayed long enough to confirm there was nobody left to save, then headed for the next world."

"I remember that too," said Faragonda, "It was a rather obscure world. The people pretty much kept to themselves."

"Correct," said Griffin, and turned back to them. "What isn't well known is that it was the home of the powerful techno-wizard Grandaeus."

Faragonda and Saladin gasped. THAT name they knew!

"So that's what happened to him!" exclaimed Saladin.

"Yes, he died in the destruction," confirmed Griffin.

Faragonda thought for a few seconds. "If I remember right, he experimented with magic-enhanced technology. Some of the things I heard he was working on were quite alarming."

Griffin nodded. "And the last thing he completed before his death was a device capable of destroying an entire planet."

Faragonda and Saladin gasped.

"I got a message from one of my students who graduated a few years ago. It seems an expedition to Bekisan is being arranged to look for the device, and my student thought I should know about it," said Griffin.

"Who is arranging the expedition?" asked Saladin.

"An obscure Coven named The Coven of the Thirteenth Dead Moon. I did some checking, and apparently they are keeping a low profile until they are poised for a power bid," said Griffin. "I commend their strategy, and their goals, but not their methods."

"Oh, my, this IS serious!" said Faragonda.

"Yes, and that's why I've called the two of you," replied Griffin, "Getting the device for myself IS tempting, I have to admit, but you both know how I feel about destroying whole planets."

"What do you propose, Griffin?" asked Saladin.

"I suggest we send our own expedition, to get the device first or at least make sure it can't be recovered," was the reply. "The team will be made up of one or two students from each of our schools. That kind of cooperation will look very good to the Council."

After some thought, Faragonda said, "I agree with you, Griffy. The device will be safer in our hands than any others, providing it can be found."

"Sounds good to me," said Saladin, "But let's review what's known about Bekisan as it is today, so we can make the best choice of student."

They went to the Cloud Tower library, and shooed the students out. Griffin spoke a 'subject' spell, and all the books with information on Bekisan flew from the shelves to her. With a gesture, the books arranged themselves in slots in a cabinet with a round mirror atop it. Using the mirror, they could visualize anything within the books on the planet.

They reviewed the information, but other than seeing the widespread destruction of cities, there was little about the planet as it is now.

"Not really very much here. I don't think there is anything post-attack in the Alfea library, but I'll be sure to check," said Faragonda.

"I'm sure we've got at least some recent recon data," said Saladin, "I have a contact or two I can ask for newer information."

"Let's collect what we can, and exchange it. Our chosen students can study it while preparations are made"
said Griffin.

"Good idea, Griffy," said Faragonda.

"Then I suggest we meet in three days at Alfea with our students, and they can leave from there," said Griffin. "We dare not wait much longer than that."

"Oh, this is exciting," said Faragonda, "The three of us, united once again for a common cause!"

wcwcwc

Three days later the quad of Alfea was filled with students awaiting the arrivals. To keep the expedition confidential, a cover story had been spread. A student from each school would form a team sent to recover an artifact from an obscure world as a test, to see if such teams could be practical in the future.

The six girls of the Winx Club stood together, talking.

"I think it's great you were chosen," said Flora.

"Me too," said Bloom, "You'll uphold the honor of our school, no problem!"

"You are the logical choice," commented Tecna.

"I wish I was going," said Musa, "I heard the thing they're looking for is a unique musical instrument."

"Well, maybe you'll get to play it when they get back," answered Layla.

"Whatever it is, may the light of the Sun and Moon guide you to it, and then safely home!" said Stella.

The chosen student was standing with her eyes closed, blushing. She opened them and looked around. "Thanks so much, guys," said Mirta, "I'm going to do my best, no matter which Witch I'm paired with!"

"That's the spirit!" said Flora, hugging her adopted sister. "You take care."

"Hey, look!" said Nova, pointing, "Here comes someone from the direction of Cloud Tower!"

Indeed, two figures were flying toward the School for Fairies. Within a minute they landed in the quad. Many of the fairies, especially the underclass women, backed away from them. One was Ms. Griffin, who stood with quiet dignity, and the other was a familiar form, tall, gangly and green-haired. Lucy. She was wearing a large backpack.

Mirta started to go over and give her best friend a hug, but Tecna stopped her. "Remember decorum," she whispered,
and Mirta nodded.

Lucy went over to them. "Mirta, good to see you," she said, then nodded at the Winx Club. "Fairies."

It was still a secret that Lucy and the Winx Girls were friends, and no matter how much they were bursting to give her a friend's greeting, they didn't want to reveal it. So they acted civil, but nothing more.

"So, you're the Witch Cloud Tower is sending?" asked Bloom.

"Yep. I'm top student, so I get the honor," Lucy explained.

"This should be interesting," said Mirta, "I'm the Alfea student going."

"Well, good for you," said Lucy, crossing her arms. She looked around. "So, where's the Red Fountain guy I have to put up with on this little jaunt?"

"Not here yet," answered Musa. "And if that thing you're going for is a musical instrument, be careful with it,
huh?"

Lucy looked at her. "Maybe I'll break a string or two, just to watch a Fairy cry."

Musa's retort was drowned out by the noise of a Red Fountain ship arriving. It landed neatly in the quad near the entrance, and moments later the ramp lowered. Walking with dignity and the aid of his staff was Saladin,
and behind him in his uniform was the chosen student.

"TIMMY!" cried Tecna, and ran to greet him. They hugged and exchanged a brief kiss. The rest of the Winx Club,
followed by Mirta, who grabbed her own pack of supplies, and more slowly by Lucy, went to greet him.

"I want you to take care of my sister," said Flora with a smile, then leaned forward, "And our favorite Witch"
she whispered.

Timmy grinned. "I'll do my best."

Behind them a large wasp flew over and landed on the Red Fountain ship. It sat for a moment, then flew inside,
unnoticed.

The chosen students stood at the foot of the ramp as the three teachers who represented the Points of Magic came over to them.

"This is a first for all our schools, and we hope you will cooperate and succeed in this mission," said Faragonda.

"Yes," agreed Griffin, "It will look very good to the Magix Council if you do, so don't disappoint me."

"We've agreed on one other thing," said Saladin, "This will be the Final Exam for the three of you. Come back successful, and you're exempt from all other testing." He smiled. "How is THAT for incentive?"

The three students agreed they could go for that! With final goodbyes, they went aboard and Timmy closed the ramp behind them. He took his place at the flight controls. Lucy and Mirta sat at the side consoles.

"Here we go, ladies!" said Timmy, and the ship took off for Bekisan.

The ship lifted off, flew over the entrance, angled up and disappeared behind the clouds. Back at Alfea, the student gathering broke up.

"Now that they are on their way," said Faragonda, "Would the two of you care to join me for lunch?"