Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club. In the other hand, I do own the OCs used in this story.

Author's note: Hello, here's Shimizuggi with another multi-chapter fic! Damn, publishing the first chapter never gets easier, haha.

But some warnings might be needed. There will be (minor) blood, (possibly) violence and (most certainly) character death. Possibly some swearing too, but nothing that could scar someone, I guess.

And for the curious ones, couples will be the canon ones and Faragonda/Hagen (curses, I'd like to call it canon).

I hope I didn't forget anything... Oh well, I should stop before this note becomes a novel.

Enjoy :)

Impatient drumming of fingers echoed from wall to wall in almost empty throne room. Pale man ran his fingers absently through his shoulder-length brown hair.

"He's late." He huffed lazily and corrected his posture on the uncomfortable throne. He heard huge doors creaking, despite the comer's caution. A smirk grew on his sharp-angled face. "And not a moment too soon."

The newcomer had hidden his eyes under a hood of his short, dark blue cloak, which covered only half of his upper arms. He marched down a carpet in his grey knee-boots, all way to the lower end of stairs, which led way to the throne.

The hooded man raised his stubble bearded chin, but didn't look the man on the throne into eyes. "I apologize, Mr. Montgomery. My journey back took longer than I expected."

"Yes, of course." Montgomery brushed his slightly longer beard, which was cut to look pointy. "I personally made using portals harder when coming to Galigine. I sure hope you're not saying that your delay is my fault, Amer."

Amer now gazed straight at Montgomery, revealing his horror-filled eyes. "Of course not, sir!"

Montgomery raised his thick eyebrows and studied Amer with his grey eyes. He broke the paining silence, "I suppose you're bringing me news, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir." Amer's voice was a little more stable now. "As you know, she was able to prevent the poison, but she won't survive the burning curse by any chance. She has to just sit down on that chair and you don't have to worry about her anymore."

Montgomery gave a satisfied grin to his soldier. "Splendid."

Amer hesitated a bit and took a deep breath to build up his courage. "But sir, I don't really understand. Why you must get rid off her first?" His leader's stern stare made him wince. "I-I mean… Wouldn't someone more important, like someone from the Magic Council, be better choice?" The regret on his face was clear for anyone.

"I'm your leader. Remember, whose badge you're wearing!" Montgomery's furious tone caused Amer to touch the medal on his cloak, almost like as a reflex. "That's right, mine, Mortuus Montgomery's."

He rose from the throne and purposely swept dust off his dark purple shirt, where the two golden 'M's were sewn. "Don't question my choices."

"Forgive me, Mr. Montgomery," Amer mumbled with his head hanging down.

"But if you have to know." Montgomery sighed dryly. "She knows too much about me. She's a real threat to my plans if she lives. And of course, we didn't really get along in the past."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Never mind that. But let's say revenge is sweet." Bitter memories caused a grimace to appear on his features. Soon a smirk took its place. "Sweet like that dollface from my younger years, who has no idea, that past will hunt her."

"Come on, girls, we're late already!" Bloom's stomach tingled with hunger, and smell of Alfea's fresh bread and hot tea didn't help it.

It was the year, when Bloom and her friends finally got a chance to dedicate for their teaching assistant careers. Last year they were sent to find the last fairy of Earth, Roxy. Their mission was successful and when Roxy took Faragonda's offer to attend Alfea, the Winx decided to get back too.

"Well, we wouldn't be late if certain blonde wouldn't have brushed her hair for half an hour," Musa mumbled coldly, interrupting the redhead's musings.

"Hey! You think that getting such a smooth hair is fast?" Stella exclaimed with overly dramatic voice. "Besides, Tecna was late too."

"I was working," Tecna stated dryly without removing her gaze from her laptop's screen.

"Come on, girls, let's not waste more time." Layla carefully pushed down a door handle. "Let's just sneak in, no one will notice a thing."

Apparently, they weren't the only ones, who were late. When they had snuck up in the teacher's section, they noticed an empty chair next to Griselda.

"Something's wrong, girls," Layla whispered, leaning over a table. "Faragonda isn't here."

Stella shrugged. "Maybe she just slept in."

Tecna lifted her gaze from her laptop with disbelieving expression. "But Faragonda never sleeps in."

That was true, Bloom hadn't ever seen Faragonda being late. The redhead had gotten to know how full schedules the teachers had. She couldn't imagine how much worse it was for the headmistress.

"You can stop worrying now," Musa said, adjusting her long ponytail. "She's right there."

And indeed, Faragonda was there, making her way to the teachers' section with light and swift steps. She sat on the table next to Griselda, not caring about the stares she got because of her appearance, which was anything but formal like usually.

"But look. Her face." Bloom briefly pointed at Faragonda's smudged eye-make up, which she tried to clean with poor result. "It's like she has cried."

"Come on, Bloom, don't think like that. Why would she cry? Besides, look at her hair. "Stella grinned and nudged her shoulder towards Faragonda, whose hair had curly loose strands pointing at almost every direction. "Humidity has just done its tricks."

Flora blinked. "But it's not even moist outside…"

During their analyzing Faragonda and Griselda had started talking. First they were whispering and soon the conversation grew more intense after every sentence.

Suddenly Faragonda practically slammed her hand on the table and stood up swiftly. She clapped her gloved hands few times to get the students' attention.

"Attention, young ladies. Starting from today, students are not allowed to visit Magix for few weeks or longer if necessary."

It wasn't too surprising that the room filled with protests and groaning. Bloom knew that at least few students would try to sneak out.

Faragonda held her hand up to demand silence. "Calm down, please. I know this is unusual but Magix isn't a safe place right now for reasons, which some of you may have heard. It will be announced when visits are allowed again. Enjoy your breakfast."

Well, that would have sounded better if most of the students hadn't already finished eating.

Bloom turned to her friends, who looked as confused as she was. "Magix is not safe?

"I think I know why," said Tecna, who had been busy with her computer for a moment earlier. She pointed at the screen, which showed some online magazine. "Look at this article. Seven people have been killed in just two days. They were all attacked by some kind of group of fighters."

Flora's hand flew in front of her mouth. "That's horrible!"

Musa tried to peek over her friends' shoulders. "Who were the victims?"

Tecna eyed the article for a moment. "The names are not listed. However, it seems like they didn't have any kind of connection."

Stella pouted and tilted her head slightly. "So, what's the problem then? It's not like they'd attack only fairies, right?"

Musa put her hands on her hips. "That's exactly the problem, Stella! They don't care who you are, if you get in their sight, they'll kill you!"

Stella remained silent after that.