Category: Winx Club
Rating: T
Couples: none
Warnings: Major AU, MAJOR Blood, Character Death
Chapter: Prologue
Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me
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"Today, students, you will face your final test." The man spoke to the assembly. "Succeed and you are full-fledged members of society. And fail… well, let's not go into that, it'd mess up the statistics."
The people he addressed sniggered. Fairies, Witches and Specialists alike were waiting for the Headmaster of Alfea to finish his speech.
"It will be a test split in three parts: Bravery, Cunning and Control. To proceed you need to accomplish the previous test. But I warn you: the first two are easy, but do not let that fool you." His long hair danced in the wind as he met the gazes of the students separately. "And please remember: you are sworn to secrecy. None that have finished are allowed to tell others of what these tests entail. On pain of dead."
One of the faculty members seemed to mutter something under her breath. But the Potion-mistress of Cloudtower did not speak up.
"Well, let's gets this show started." The Headmaster smiled warmly at the students. "Prepare yourselves; the first test will begin the day after tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you all at the end of the week."
As the teachers left the platform, the students began to disperse. A group of 3 fairies and 2 specialists walked in the direction of the forest.
"I can't wait!" One of the fairies was bouncing along with the rest. Her light-green hair swirled around her. "One more week and we'll finally be rid of the creep."
"Sheily, please." One of the boys hissed, looking over his shoulder. "He could hear you."
"And what is he gonna do? He can't exclude me from the exam, I have my Enchantix." Sheily pouted, but obediently lowered her voice. "You guys don't have to be around him all day."
"Don't worry, we feel your pain." The other boy said. "Alfea is a veritable hell."
"Thank you for stating the obvious, brother." The smaller girl stated. "Geesh, if I didn't need a study at Alfea for nearly every higher job, I'd left at the first chance." Her dark-blue eyes glanced over her shoulder at the pink and blue building, her long hair formed into two buns at the side of her head.
"Ditto." The other two fairies agreed.
"Well, one more week and we're done with this." Her brother soothed her. "C'mon, how bad can these exams be? There is a 100%-rate of passing. Gotta count for something."
"Yeah, it probably does." Sheily said. "So, who's in for some fun-time?"
"Does it translate to shopping?" The last girl said exasperated.
"Duh!" Sheily shot off like an arrow from a bow, which was not that strange, since she was the fairy of Hunting. Boy, did that make for strange shields in combat…
"Wait for us!" The two siblings called, running after her. The girl ran in front of her brother, her powers as fairy of the wind allowing her to go much faster.
The other two followed more leisurely, grinning as the others nearly toppled Sheily in their haste to catch up.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The first test was easy. The second was easy. The third? As the Headmaster of Alfea said: 'well, let's not go into that.'
All you need to know is that 100 percent of those that finished the exam passed. That is all that went into the records anyhow. The rest? That didn't matter. All that mattered was that once again, there was a passing-rate of 100 percent.
You wonder why I tell you this, don't you? Well, those records I mentioned up there? They have been dug up. It happens I guess. Hell, I once had a similar occurrence with a story I wrote: found it in a childhood book of mine years after writing it.
Anyway, back to business: they were dug up. And if you're some high-ranked official – aka some minister which I know you aren't, since ministers have better things to do then read some silly fanfic – what would you say about an exam where every attendant passed?
Exactly!
So, this exam is reinstated. The entire problem is: it was very long ago that is was banned. There was no record as to why – well, obviously someone had drunk too much, because seriously, would you ban that? – and no record as to what exactly it entailed. Now that could pose a more serious problem.
Luckily you know a person who has attended the exam herself: Faragonda. Problem solved.
Right?
…
Right…?
…
No. No, problem not solved. She is sworn to secrecy, she can't tell anyone what it is about.
'Oh well, she is a Headmistress herself. Just let her organize the thing.' You'll say, pointing out the obvious.
It's obvious alright, but not easy. Scratch that: it's impossible. She refuses. Yes, you read that right and I told you right. She refuses. No exam with a 100 percent passing-rate if she will get her way.
But why, you wonder. That is a secret as well-kept as the entire exam. That is a secret more dark than the hearts of evil. Deeper than Shadowhaunt. Foul enough that at the end, the Shadowphoenix himself rose from the mountains to put an end to it.
And no, he is evil. He is dark and he pointed out worlds to die. He has no hidden depths by which he can be swayed easily. He feeds on death as others do on bread. But that exam? It got a man killed. The Headmaster of Alfea faced the Shadowphoenix over it. He died for an exam that was perfect. And no one, not his students, not his colleagues, not his employees, not the government, the army, the citizens of Magix, no one stood at his side, each and every one content to watch him die over the perfect exam.