Behind them, two tall girls- one white-blonde and one dark brunette- stood under a roof of evergreen trees, smirking at the teen girls. Both had their arms crossed and were levitating only a few inches off the ground. The difference between the two was their demeanor; the blonde was closer to them, sure of herself and brimming with power while the brunette hung back and shot unsure looks at her partner.

"Go away, Screech. There's nothing here for you," Starlit snapped. She discreetly moved closer to Firla, putting an arm out to block Firla. She shot a glance back before returning her narrowed gaze to the two in front of them.

"Just like there's nothing at home for me?" The brunette scowled and she moved closer, her eyes intent on Starlit. "That's all because of you, dear sister. And I will make you pay for causing my banishment!"

Starlit stayed where she was, standing her ground. "You caused your own banishment, Screech. You were the one who decided to become a witch and terrorize our sisters for fun."

Firla took a step back, her eyes wide. A witch? "Star, who are they?"

Starlit bit her lip as she met Firla's curious eyes, "Firla, go. Hide, run, anything- just get away." She turned back to the two strangers, "You're not getting anything. Magic Winx!" She threw her arms up, wrists crossed. She was surrounded by brilliant golden light that totally obscured her from view.

Firla took several steps back, watching the strange girls as she moved towards the trees opposite them. What do they want... and what is Star doing... She edged closer to the safety of the trees, her eyes never leaving

The magic glimmers around Starlit faded; a golden halter top and short-shorts with matching ankle boots replaced her dress and sandals, sheer golden wings spread out behind her. She fell into a fighting stance, her eyes focused on the two strangers.

The blonde snickered, "Oh, look! A pixie. Well, two. Let's crush them." She fisted her hands and jutted out a hip. "I'm in the mood for some fun anyway."

The brunette- Screech?- laughed and nodded, "Let's do it, Cubia. I call destroying my sister, though." She glared at Starlit, "She stole my place in line. She embarrassed me without even being home. She made the citizens of Blue Star laugh at me! She caused my ruin!" Her voice rose as she went on until a loud snarl escaped her lips at the end of her rant.

Starlit fluttered into the air, "Leave Firla out of this, Cubia. And it doesn't even matter, Screech; Andromeda is going to be queen either way. She's preparing for it now." She stayed between the two girls and Firla, taking in everything around her without even looking. Her senses seemed to be strangely heightened, everything in her focused on keeping her best friend safe.

Cubia rolled her eyes and looked towards Firla, "And I'll get the power she doesn't even know she has. The powers my sisters failed to keep." She pointed both hands, with her fingers spread, in Firla's direction and smirked, "Ice Daggers!"

Firla gasped, putting her arms up to guard her face as she ducked away. A gold- orange force field appeared around her, melting the shards of ice on impact as they shoot towards her. She stared at her hands in awe, the force field fading slowly.

Starlit's hands glowed golden yellow, "Star Burst!" She shot an energy ball at Screech, making her slide backwards a couple feet but it wasn't enough to knock her down. Starlit advanced forward a couple steps and shot another energy ball, who dodged it. She shot off a few more and cried, "Firla, go now! You need to get out of here!"

Firla shook her head in response, her shock of the moment keeping her from speaking. I won't leave my best friend. She stayed near the trees where she could take everything in, ready to somehow aid her best friend when she needed it.

Screech sneered, "I am getting so tired of you, sister. You're so weak and lame now that you've been on Earth for so long." She floated into the air and pointed two fingers at Starlit, "Supersonic Crash!" Dark greenish waves shot from her fingers, spreading through the air in front of her, widening as they moved, until they hit Starlit in the chest.

Starlit gasped, her eyes widening as she was struck. She fell backwards, dropping a few feet as her wings paused in their constant fluttering. The waves kept coming, slamming her into a tree. She slid down to the roots, unconscious. Her outfit flickered a couple times before returning to her street clothes, her wings and glittery ensemble gone.

Firla ran over, worried. "Star! Star, are you all right?" She knelt and touched her friend's shoulder, looking for blood anywhere. She repeated her friend's name a couple times and checked her pulse. "Star, please wake up!"

Cubia chuckled, "Good work, Screech. Now we can get the power and destroy them both. This pathetic little princess doesn't even know how to work her powers." She stepped closer to the two friends, her confidence in her victory flowing from her in waves.

Screech frowned and tried not to whine as she spoke, "I thought we were only here for my sister, Cubia." She glanced over at Firla, "She doesn't even have powers."

Cubia detected the whine and narrowed her eyes but was interrupted before she could reprimand Screech.

Firla had stood up, feeling braver than before. She stood over Starlit, glaring at the two girls across from her. "No. I won't let you hurt Star anymore."

Cubia rolled her eyes, "What are you going to do? You're weak." She floated around Firla, a few feet above the ground, and snickered. "Your power isn't even worth taking now. It's been dormant for so long."

Firla glared at her, "What are you talking about?"

Screech watched Cubia, then Firla. Her hazel eyes are narrow and she placed fisted hands on her hips. She moved closer to the two Earth girls.

Cubia snapped her fingers and light purple rings appeared around Firla, trapping her where she was standing so that she couldn't move an inch. "I mean that you would be powerful and great, but your power hasn't been used. It's worthless, like you."

"And my sister," Screech crossed her arms, looking at the unconscious blonde. "Pathetic pixie stole my place in line to the throne and got me banished from my own family."

"She never did anything to you. She doesn't even have an older sister." Firla cried as she glowed red-orange. "She has no throne, and her only family is her mother." Firla clenched and unclenched her hands, glaring up at Screech. She was shaking and she could feel her emotions building up inside of her. The glow around her grew even more intense. "Leave Star alone!" Firla screamed, releasing all of her pent up emotion in a flash of red-orange light, sending the floating girls flying. The rings around Firla disappeared and she dropped to her knees weakly, watching Screech and Cubia disappear from sight.

A few moments later, Starlit sat up slowly. She rubbed the back of her head and grimaced as she surveyed the scene around her. "Firla? Are you okay? Where'd Screech and Cubia go?" She grimaced again.

Firla turned and scooted closer to her friend. "I... I don't know," Firla looked down at her hands. "I think I did it though." Her hands still shook and she felt exhausted suddenly. She noticed Starlit grimace again and frowned. "Are you okay? You hit that tree pretty hard."

Starlit nodded slowly, "Just a bit of a headache. I'm going to have a wicked knot later." Firla helped Starlit stand, looping an arm around her waist as Starlit leaned on her for a second before straightening and brushing off her skirt. "Wow, I didn't know you had powers. I mean, Andromeda had always said you were special but she never said why. Maybe that's what she meant."

Firla stared at her friend, confused. She said nothing as Starlit picked grass of her skirt and began to move away from the tree.

Starlit looked back at Firla, her head tilted to the side. "Oh. Right. Come on, let's go. I'll explain everything back at your house. Your mom should probably know about what I'm going to tell you, too."