Category: Winx Club
Rating: M
Couples: none
Warnings: AU (As much as it can be with only two episodes into the season xD)
Chapter: 2
Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me
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The Winx were in Faragonda's office, talking to her about the best course of action regarding Tritannus when her phone rang.
Aisha was surprised to see her aunt, Queen Ligea, appear as a hologram.
"Is Aisha with you?" The mermaid-queen addressed Faragonda. "I have been searching for her everywhere."
"Yes, I am." The princess of Tides did not wait for Faragonda to make her move, knowing instinctively that something must be very wrong for her aunt to make a hologram-call. "What is it?"
"You must talk to your father." Ligea told her. "You must calm him down otherwise not only will we have to deal with Tritannus, but also a civil war between the merpeople and the humans of Andros."
"What?" The young fairy demanded. "Why would he do something like that?"
Ligea fell silent, looking at her niece in shock. "You don't know yet?"
"Know what yet?" Aisha demanded. "Aunt Ligea, what is happening over there?"
"Tritannus escaped…" The mermaid began. "After he did, he attacked the Piscies of Andros and Earth and stole their powers. Afterwards he disappeared, but not before… before taking your mother from the royal palace of Andros. He has abducted Niobe."
Aisha's legs gave way under the realization and she would have ended up on the floor had Faragonda not quickly moved her own chair behind her former student.
Ligea waited for a moment, allowing the other to digest the news. Her long hair floated around her face as she did.
"And then?" Aisha demanded, looking her aunt square in the eyes.
"The hunt was opened." Ligea softly said. "Without success until now. Your father is furious at your uncle Neptune for allowing it to come this far and not keeping better track of his own son. Neptune meanwhile is equally furious that your father would believe that he could have prevented all this simple because Tritannus is his son."
"Why didn't dad tell me that?" Aisha meanwhile whispered. "When did this happen?" She looked up, her eyes angry now.
"Late yesterday eve." Ligea said. "Shortly after word of Tritannus' attack on Nereus at the ceremony reached them. From what I gather, they parted ways after reading the letter we send them, after which Tritannus took your mother from the family-wing of the royal palace. Your father arrived just in time to see Tritannus jump out of the window with her unconscious in his arms. Since then no one has seen either of them."
"Oh no." Flora gasped softly.
"We have to find that Book." Bloom stated as Ligea cut the connection. "Without Sirenix we have no chance of beating him and finding Aisha's mother." She turned to the Headmistress. "You said you did not know where the Book of Sirenix is. Do you know who we could ask?"
Faragonda nodded. "Your sister Daphne was the last fairy to gain Sirenix. You must ask her. All I know is that she did not return the Book to its' original resting-place."
"Then that's what we'll do." Bloom squeezed Aisha's shoulders. "Don't worry: we'll free your mother."
She immediately left the room to contact Daphne, leaving the other Winx with Aisha.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"So…" Icy looked at the unconscious woman. "Why exactly do we have a massive beacon for the Winx here?" She looked over at Tritannus who was resting on the beach of the small island beside the Queen of Andros.
"Hunting down all Gatekeepers would take too long." Tritannus answered her. "There are too many, and each is on their own respective planet. With my aunt we have leverage to simply have my father and uncle deliver the Piscies to us. It will save us both time and energy."
"IF the Winx do not find us first and free her, that is." She countered.
"Why would they do that?" He righted himself a bit, resting his hand on Niobe's chest briefly to check her heart-beat. Perhaps he had used too much force after all, because she still hadn't woken from when he crashed her into the palace-wall.
"I don't know if you noticed, but Aisha…" Hate dripped from that one word. "Your cousin is part of the Winx. She will no doubt convince her fairy-friends to help her free her mother."
At that his eyes narrowed and she could virtually see the wheels turn in his head. After a while he spoke again.
"I have my ways to keep secrets." He reached over, scooping the unconscious woman in his arms. "They will not think to look here on Earth and I have had my minions look all over for a good place to hide her. They will soon return."
"If you say so." Icy acquiesced. Her sisters were not present, being heaven knows where.
"Can you cast a water-breathing spell on her?" He broke the silence after having maneuvered his aunt into a comfortable position for him to carry her. Icy did as he asked, watching as he sank beneath the surface. For a moment she watched his form disappear deeper beneath the waves before following him.