Darev: It's been a while I've written anything with substance. I've written a dozen summaries for fics and I don't think I'll get around to writing a third of them. Of the group, this one just called to me. I love bad guys/girls, and I especially love it when they team up to take down the heroes. It's all dark side from here on out though the good guys will make a few cameos. I even have a twist in store that I believe will blow your mind. Whether I finish it or not is up to the writing gods. For now, enjoy!

Setting: Just about the time during the events of "Secrets of the Lost Kingdom."

Mean Girls

1. Breakout

"Seek the enemy of your enemy and you will find a friend."

Urdnot Wrex quoting a krogan idiom to Commander Sheperd – Mass Effect

The cell was clean and well-lit, but what else can you expect from Light Rock? They treated their prisoners like hotel guests; if there was such a thing as a hotel where the guests were never allowed to leave. Instead of bars on the window there was a small porthole that had a magnificent view of the inner courtyard where the Light Haven monks would tend to the gardens and meditate in one of the fortress' many pagodas. There were no bars because iron was considered an impure element, and therefore an intricate web design stood in place for the bars. When the sun shone through the portico, it shadowed a marvelous chrysanthemum on the cell floor, adding scenery to an otherwise bleak room.

Speaking of which, it was circular in design. The monks valued the circle over the square...something to do with a cycle...and instead of a rectangular bed there was a plush oval-shaped futon in the center of the room. There was no pillow or blanket. The futon served as a place for meditation as well as sleep. With acoustics to rival most caverns, one can only hear their own breathing as they sought inner enlightenment.

That futon stood in tatters; the stuffing scattered around the room. The person responsible for this was huddled beneath the portico where the light could not reach her. She hated the sun. She hated any kind of warmth. All that light seeping in through the chrysanthemum webbing made the room unbearably hot for one so accustomed to the cold. Her pale forehead was drenched in sweat and her once illustrious white hair was matted to her face like a wet towel.

She huddled against the wall, her legs spread in an L shape, one of which she hugged to her chest. Her head slung over like an unstrung marionette, limp but with regular breaths heaving her shoulders up and down. She was tired. Never had she felt so weak in her life. This place, Light Rock Haven, drained every ounce of dark energy she once possessed. Now this woman, this witch once feared by many across the universe, was nothing more than some helpless pixie.

Draped as she was in the traditional white garbs the monks used for new initiates, the witch wore them like shackles. It weighed her down so much that it became difficult to walk without help. The monks insisted it was her own guilt weighing her down and to be free she need only liberate her mind or some philosophical bullshit like that. She needed dark magic, but there was no magic of any kind in Light Rock. This place was a magic-user's worst nightmare, especially if you were a witch.

To add insult to injury, the collar around her neck prevented her from using magic of any kind. She was no stronger than a regular human now. A fairy could bat her around and she'd be unable to do a thing about it.

One fairy in particular haunted the witch's dreams. Blue eyes. Fiery hair. She could see her behind her eyelids, mocking her, taunting her from the safety of freedom beyond these walls. She dreamt of rendering that fairy's flesh asunder. It was the only thing that made nights tolerable in this wretched place. At least in her dreams she was still feared and powerful. It was her one escape and if she could she would sleep all day.

The door opened, admitting her jailer.

"Get...out." Her voice was rasp, strained. It was as if talking took too much out of her.

Like the room, the door was circular and quietly slid open to reveal a bald-headed man in his early twenties. Not much older than she, as a matter of fact. With green eyes the color of grass and olive skin, she might have considered him handsome if she didn't want to kill him every moment he walked through that door.

"It is time for your lunch." The man stepped in, and then paused. She heard him sigh. "I wish you would stop doing that. It takes the young ones many hours to sew those futons together." He approached the angry woman slowly and without worry. Though thin and frail in stature, the man was a trained combatant. His steps were practiced like he was walking on eggshells. He carried with him a small, oval-shaped tray with a bowl of sliced fruit and vegetables, a cup, and a pitcher of water. He placed them all just a few inches from where she sulked.

"You haven't been eating well. I grow worried," he admitted, the concern clear in his voice and on his face. "Are you ill?"

"Yes." She lifted her head, slowly. Captivity had drained all the luster from her figure...all but her eyes, which shone with icy malice. "I am sick and tired of this place. I want out."

"I'm afraid that won't be happening anytime soon." The monk stood up. He towered over her. "Not until you learn to conquer the demons inside of you."

"I. Am. The demon."

He did not waver. "Since I am responsible for your well-being during your stay at Light Rock, I'm afraid I must disagree."

"Then stop taking care of me. It'll be easier on both of us."

"I take my charges very seriously." He turned to the side, studied the wall a moment, and said, "You and your companions have wrought much misery on the outside world. Many have suffered because of your actions. You were brought here to heal as well as redeem yourself by putting your attributes to good use."

"And do what?" The witch spat. "Put some ice cubes in your tea? I don't do nice."

"Deep down, I believe you are a good person. Life must have been very difficult for you." He turned his eyes on her. There was no judgment in them, only compassion. He may as well have slapped her in the face.

"You have no idea what I've been through. Who are you to judge me?"

"I don't judge."

"Yes you do. That's all anyone ever does."

"People are not as evil as you believe them to be."

Now her eyes narrowed. "And you think everyone is good?" She scoffed. "You're a bigger fool than I thought."

"To perceive one a fool, one must understand what it takes to be a fool."

Her head jerked back. "What?!"

"Simply put it means it takes one to know one." He smiled. He actually smiled as if he had made a joke. Now he was mocking her. She'd rather he remained quiet.

"You and I are both young. We have so much to learn. It is my wish that we may both learn together."

She turned away. "Piss off!"

"You are stubborn but I believe that my patience will be rewarded." He waited until she looked back at him before speaking. Gone was the smile. There was no emotion on his face save for the eyes. "I know we will not fail each other." He dipped his head in a bow. "Enjoy your meal." He turned and walked for the door.

The witch glared at him.

"I will have a replacement futon sent up before..." he heard a crash behind him, followed by something rolling on the floor and the sound of spilling liquid. He sighed. "I take it you don't like papayas?"

Looking back, the monk found the witch had kicked over the tray, spilling its articles on the floor. The cup rolled across the room and stopped when it hit the back of his ankle. He picked it up and turned back to her. "You really should eat. You are not looking healthy at all."

"Mind your own business."

"You are my business."

"Get lost, loser!" She hugged both her knees to her chest. "Don't come back."

He sighed. "You are a challenge. I will give you that."

She glowered. "You have no idea."

"Very well. I shall...ARGH!"

The witch's head shot up. She saw the monk drop the cup as his body convulsed with pain. He rocked back and forth momentarily before falling to his knees. His eyes were wide with shock. They fixated on the witch, filled with an emotion she could not fathom, before rolling into the back of his head. He collapsed on the ground and did not get back up.

Her mouth agape, the witch lifted her gaze from the monk's unconscious body to the person behind him. She was wearing the same white robe as her, only her hair was a dark shade of blue and frizzled like it had been struck by lightning. "Stormy?"

"Icy, come on!" The weather witch waved her forward. "We've got to move, now!"

Icy noticed a small device in Stormy's hand. Sparks of electricity emanated from the tiny prongs at the tip. She struggled to her feet, using the wall as leverage. "Where'd you get the tazer?" Her legs wobbled. She hadn't stood up for days.

"Never mind." Stormy kicked the monk for good measure, just to make sure he was completely out. Then she rushed out the door, looking both left and right, the tazer always at the ready. "It won't be long before they notice we're gone." She looked over at Icy. "We have to get Darcy and be out of here before then."

"How'd you get out?"

"Come on!" Stormy was panicking. Her eyes darted every which way as if expecting a pair of strong hands to wrap around her at any moment. "Move it, Icy!"

Icy groaned. She wasn't used to taking orders from anyone let alone Stormy. Yet she was free and she had a weapon. That's more than Icy could say about herself. Forcing her legs to move, Icy stumbled her way to the door. She stopped over the unconscious monk.

"What are you doing? This no time for revenge."

Icy glared at Stormy who froze in place.

"I mean if...if you wanna kick him a little, that's okay with me." She scratched the back of her neck nervously.

"No." Icy looked back at the monk. "That's not near enough for me."

Stormy pleaded, "Look Ice, I know you're pissed off and everything but if we don't get moving we're going back where we started. Darcy's not far from here. We have to break her out and get to the highest tower to make our escape."

Icy glanced at her sideways.

"Just trust me on this one. It's our only way out." She eyed the downed monk. "Worry about him later. Worry about us now."

Stormy had a point. Much as she hated to admit it, Icy had to put her revenge on hold for now. She placed one hand on her hip and looked down on the monk with a smile on her face. "You won't think I'm such a good person when I come back for you." She turned to Stormy. "Let's go."

"This way!" Stormy ran down the corridor while Icy closed the door shut. The monk would have a splitting headache when he woke up, but it's nothing a little meditation won't cure.

Stormy had with her a master key which she used to unlock the cell door.

"Are you going to tell me what happened or what?" Icy demanded; feeling agitated at being left out of the loop.

"You need to trust me," Stormy said as she slid open the door. "I know it's a stretch but I know what I'm doing."

Inside, Darcy was curled up in a fetal position on the futon. She looked paler than usual. The witches outside uttered a gasp in unison.

"Uh-oh." Stormy regarded Icy. "What's wrong with her?"

One look at the portico and Icy knew what was happening. "It's the light. Darcy draws her powers from darkness and light weakens her more than it would you or me. I could barely stand just a moment ago. I don't' think she can even crawl."

"Well that's great." Stormy said as they both entered the cell. Icy leaned down to nudge Darcy awake.

"Darcy. It's me. Wake up."

Darcy's eyes fluttered open. They widened with recognition of Icy's face but when her lips parted no words came out - just a wheeze of air.

"She's bad. Come on." Icy pushed Darcy into a sitting position before looping one of her arms around her neck. "We're going to have to carry her out."

"Wonderful." Stormy looped the other arm and together the two witches carried their wounded companion into the hallway.

"So spill, Stormy. How'd you get out of your cell?"

They were lugging Darcy's prone form through the halls. Darcy's head swiveled and she tried to speak on more than one occasion but was too weak to formulate cohesive words.

"This girl broke me out. She handed me the master key and the tazer and told me to free you two. She's one tough chick. The two guards stationed outside my cell were knocked out cold by some powerful magic."

Icy looked over Darcy's head at her. "Powerful magic?"

"Yeah. I think she's a fairy. Though you wouldn't know it."

"Hold on!" Icy stopped and by default, Stormy. "You're telling me that a fairy set you free?"

Stormy nodded.

"And you listened to her?"

"She's busting us out, Ice. You know the old saying, 'Don't look a gift gargoyle in the mouth'."

"Fairies are the enemy, Stormy. We do no associate with them."

"Fine. Go back to your cell if that's what you want. Darcy and I are getting out of here."

"Who is she? Why would she help us?"

"Don't know. Don't care."

"Well you should. How do you know this isn't some sort of trap?"

Frustrated, Stormy blurted, "Because we're out!"

An alarm went off - a great bell followed shortly by surprised shouts.

"And if you want it to stay that way I suggest we move!"

Icy did not protest to that. She and Stormy lugged Darcy as fast as they could around the corner.

"Do you know where you're going?" Icy asked.

"The highest tower is this way. I'm the witch of storms, remember? I can hear the wind."

The shouting grew closer. Several heavy footsteps sounded out behind them.

"Hurry!" Icy urged them onward. They came to a doorway where inside they found a flight of stairs that circled upward. Obviously they had reached the tower.

Darcy opened her eyes. "W-What's going on?"

"Hold her." Icy gave Darcy to Stormy.

"What are you doing?"

"Buying us some time." She grabbed the tazer from Stormy. Once they were inside the start of the stairway, Icy shut the door. She then opened up the tazer. She made a few tweaks before she snapped the tazer onto the handle. It sparked violently, maintaining a constant shock as the prongs sent jolts of electricity to the other end.

"The charge won't last long. Let's keep moving." She resumed her post beside Darcy and they carried her up. A loud cry followed them up as whoever touched the handle received the shock of his life. Icy smiled.

They were almost halfway up when they heard the door burst open.

"That didn't take long," Stormy commented.

"Just keep moving."

Footsteps, running footsteps, chased them up the stairs.

"Dammit!" Icy looked back they way they came. She could hear the guards getting closer. "This is going to be the shortest breakout in history."

Suddenly the tower began to shake. It was a tremor at first which grew into a quake. The witches and the guards lost their footing. One of the guards managed to get within sight of the witches. "There they are..." he said just as the walls began to crack. The whole tower split into two. The Trix were right on the edge where the upper half of the tower elevated into the air. Beneath them on the lower half, the guard and his companions could only watch in shock as their quarry was literally lifted into the air.

"What's going on?" Icy asked. She and Stormy hoisted Darcy's dangling legs over the edge. "Stormy?"

"She said to make for the top. So let's get going." They began dragging Darcy up the stairs. The tower continued to climb even as the witches reached the summit.

Icy looked around and saw nothing but clouds. Being so high up the wind kicked at her face, forcing her to squint. "Well?"

"I...I don't know. She said to meet her up here."

"That's what you get for trusting a fairy."

Suddenly a red ship materialized out of thin air. It was sleek and shaped like the tip of a three-pronged spear, or a trident. The middle spoke was longer than the other two which were elevated a few feet higher on each side. It had no markings of any kind to distinguish it. The stealth ship, for what else could it be, was designed to be as discreet as possible. It hummed quietly in the air.

"What is that?" Icy asked.

A door appeared on the side where there once was none. It slid open as the ship moved in closer to the tower, extending a small platform when it was close enough.

"Get on!" Stormy urged.

Icy climbed up first and with Stormy's help hoisted Darcy onto the ship. Once Stormy was aboard, the platform retracted and the door sealed shut. Whatever invisible force held the tower aloft now vanished, allowing the construct to plummet the several hundred feet to the fortress below. Monks scattered and guards cursed as the tower came crashing down on the courtyard.

The stealth ship powered up before moving on into the distance, gaining speed as it went.

Inside the ship, the Trix found themselves inside a vacant compartment with no furnishings. The interior was a pink-skin color with a smooth metal sheen. Darcy moaned on the floor. Stormy and Icy were catching their breaths. Despite being in motion, the witches felt nothing at all. Save a low hum, they may as well have been on the ground.

"That was close," Stormy said. "But we made it." She allowed herself a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah." Icy stood up. Her face was serious and her fists clenched at her sides. "Now it's time we found out what's going on around here." She made for the door at the other end of the compartment.

"Icy..." Stormy said. She noticed Darcy coming to as she propped herself up on her elbows.

Icy had reached the door which slid open, allowing her the first view of the cockpit. It was elongated to keep with the outside's long-neck design. From the windows, Icy could see the sky racing around them. They were moving at remarkable speed and judging from the angle were about to penetrate the atmosphere at any moment.

The witch spotted a figure sitting in the pilot's seat. There were several stations, six in all by her count, but the one on the upper left had the rooms' sole occupant so that's the one Icy approached.

Stormy stepped through the door just as Darcy got to her feet, massaging her throbbing head. "Where are we?" The disoriented witch asked.

"I want answers, fairy." Icy tried to sound threatening but in her state she knew she wouldn't be able to back it up. Between her incarceration and the magic-dampening collar around her neck, Icy was as much a threat as a wounded water nymph that was stuck on land.

"How about some gratitude, witch?" The voice coming from the pilot's seat was high-pitched. Definitely a fairy's voice. It was also haughty and stuck-up. Icy hated this girl already.

"Gratitude? You call that an escape plan?"

"Got you out, didn't it?"

Icy growled. Her fists clenched so much that the nails dug into the skin, drawing blood. She didn't care. She was angry and she needed to take it out on someone. "What do you want from us?"

"Actually I'm here to offer you something, Icy. If you don't mind we skip the formalities as we're going to be friends from this point out."

"Friends?" Behind Icy, Darcy and Stormy exchanged confused glances. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"

She heard the fairy giggle before bounding out of the seat. Standing up, she turned to confront the witches whose eyes widened at the sight.

"The name's Chimera." The former princess of Solaria curtsied. "It's a pleasure to finally meet like-minded girls like myself."

"Like-minded?" Icy repeated before pointing an accusing finger. "We've got nothing in common."

"Au-contraire. We have more in common than you think."

Icy moaned in frustration. "Start making sense." She crossed her arms.

Chimera held up two fingers. "Two words: Winx Club."

Icy snarled.

"That's the same reaction I had when I was recruited."

"Recruited?" Stormy asked.

"For what?" Darcy stumbled next to her, grabbing her sister's shoulder to keep from keeling over, an action Stormy did not like.

"And by whom?" Icy inquired.

"Someone who hates those Alfea girls as much as we do. Someone with an old grudge to settle. Someone with a lot of power and with a lot of resources at her disposal."

"Her?" Icy stressed.

"Duh. Hell hath no fury. Who else but a girl could create such a devious revenge plot?"

Icy's eyebrow curled. "Keep talking."

The ship trembled. The occupants stumbled.

"Damn!" Chimera rushed back into the pilot seat. Icy made for the one adjacent to her and sat down.

"What is it?"

"It's those Light Rock pests," Chimera responded as the ship shook again. Darcy and Stormy sat down at one of the other stations each, holding on for dear life. "They followed us."

"Well what did you expect? Of course they were going to come after us." Icy cursed as another round from the Light Haven ships hit home. "Didn't think this through, did you?"

Chimera fired off an angry stare. "Look just sit down and shut up. I can handle this."

"Can you?"

A transmission came through. "Unidentified vessel. This is the Light Haven Aerial Corps. You are to decrease speed and land your ship immediately. You are harboring dangerous criminals and will not be allowed to leave the atmosphere."

Stormy sighed. "Well it was a good run while it lasted."

"We're not done yet," Chimera worked feverishly over the controls.

"Do we have weapons?" Icy asked in anticipation. "Can we fight back?"

"This ship's built for stealth, not for combat. We wouldn't last long in a one-on-one fight with those guys."

Looking over at the radar screen before her, Darcy cringed. "Uh...more like twelve-on-one. There's too many."

"No worries." Chimera reached to a T-shaped lever on the main console and gradually began to push it forward. "We're about to go incognito." A deep-sounding vibration went through the ship. From the inside nothing had changed, but outside where the Haven ships were in hot pursuit, the vessel just disappeared.

On the console a diagram of the ship saw it changing from green to blue. "I've just activated the stealth system. We're ghosts." No sooner had she said that when the vessel pierced the outer atmosphere and broke out into space. The Light Rock ships were dumfounded. They searched the entire perimeter of the sky not knowing the vessel had long moved beyond their range. With the planet behind them, Chimera and the witches were long gone.

They were free.

"Yes!" Stormy exclaimed. Even Darcy who was not one for emotional outbursts let out a cry of victory. Chimera was all smiles for her accomplishment. Only Icy remained un-amused.

"Alright...Chimera, is it? You helped us escape but I still don't know if we can trust you."

"Is it because I'm a fairy?" Chimera's tone became defensive.

"Past experience. Everyone who busted us out in the past has turned on us in the future. Each time we joined forces with somebody we just met, we wind up in prison. So tell me, Chimera...why should we help you?"

Chimera thought on this a moment. "She said there would be some hostility," she said more to herself though Icy still heard her. "Fair enough." Chimera reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small cocoon-shaped device which she then pointed at Icy. She pushed a button and the collar around Icy's neck clicked open. It fell to the floor with a clang.

"What...?" Icy touched her bare neck for the first time in weeks. "I'm free?"

Chimera did the same for Stormy and Darcy. Two more collars fell off. "You're welcome."

"Bitchin'." Stormy held up her hand where a small bolt of electricity danced between her fingers. "Wish I could have used this tazer instead."

Darcy created a small globe of darkness in her palms. "Still weak but improving." The ball disappeared.

Icy held up her fist. She summoned the darkness within her and could feel her power gathering in her knuckles. Her fist began to glow with energy. Icy smiled.

"Better?" Chimera asked.

The smile vanished. Icy looked to the other Trix who gave her blank stares. "Okay look," she spoke to Chimera. "You broke us out of Light Rock and gave us back our powers." She released her fingers, discarding the energy. "We're...grateful." The felt strange on her tongue. "But if you think we're just going to go along with someone else's scheme you can forget it. Twice that's happened and both times we were screwed over. Tell your boss thanks but we'll take care of those pixies our own way."

"She thought you might say that." Chimera swiveled her chair around so that she could face all of them. "Just to let you know, you guys aren't the only ones who got screwed over. I was once the princess of Solaria before that snobbish blonde bimbo overthrew me and my mother. Mom was never the same after that and my family was forever ruined." She grew stern, dark. "I want to make them pay for what they did to us. After we were exiled all I could think about was payback. Now's my chance."

"Wait a minute," Darcy began. "You're that Princess Chimera. I remember reading about you. Stella knocked your ass clear off the throne."

Chimera winced. "Not the words I would have used but yeah. She and her pixie pals raided the palace and threw us out. That throne was rightfully mine!" So angry was Chimera, so intent on reminiscing, that she didn't know she was growling like an enraged animal. Once she realized this, she quickly composed herself in front of the witches. "Ahem. So when I was offered a chance at revenge I took it. Now it's your turn. What do you say?"

"Another chance to stomp Musa's pretty face? I'm down." Stormy punched her fist into her open palm.

"I always love making people's lives miserable. Especially when those people have butterfly wings." Darcy thought a moment. "I'm game." She reclined in her chair.

Chimera nodded. She then turned to icy who said nothing.

"Come on, Ice. It's not like we have anything better to do," Stormy said.

"Other than run from the law," Darcy muttered.

"Listen to your friends, Icy. The authorities are going to come after you with everything they've got. At least with us you'll have a place to lay low until the heat dies down. Besides where else are you going to go?"

Icy closed her eyes. Chimera crossed her fingers.

"Alright." She swiveled her chair forward and crossed both her arms and her legs. She glanced at Chimera. "But I still don't trust you."

"She knew you'd say that." Chimera smiled as she turned back to the rudder.

"Who's this she you keep mentioning?" The white-haired witch asked.

"You'll find out soon enough. Now rest up. It's a ways where we're going and we don't serve peanuts."