Category: Winx Club

Rating: T

Couples: none

Warnings: Major AU, MAJOR Blood, Character Death

Chapter: 2

Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me

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Bloom, Layla and Helia arrived at Alfea the next day. They would stay on the fairy-school until the exam was done, despite having all graduated a few years ago. When they left the ship having picked them up all three had to take a double-take: the Faragonda that greeted them was not the Faragonda they had come to love during their time as students. Her gaze was hard and her once soothing voice was cold. It almost made Grizelda look as if she was the sweetest woman around in comparison…

"We will begin tomorrow. Best to get this behind us." She told them, before leaving them to their own devices. Or at least, that is what she intended.

Not a few minutes after she closed the door to her office someone knocked on it.

"Yes?"

Bloom peeked inside. "Could we talk to you, Headmistress?"

Faragonda did not answer, but gestured to one of the chairs, inviting them in.

"I was just wondering… Is that exam really this bad?" Bloom sat down on of the chair, Layla taking the other. Helia remained standing between the two fairies.

"Yes." The older woman stated, a hint of sadness flickering over her face.

"And you really can't tell us what the problem is?" Layla leaned forward slightly.

"Believe me, I would if I could, but the oath is still in effect and I am unable to break it." Faragonda sighed. "You will know why I am so much against this entire affair soon enough. Enjoy your ignorance while you can."

"Any help you can offer us?" Helia leaned against one of the chairs, studying her.

"Listen to me. Do as those idiot council-members did not and listen to me." She looked at them. "Otherwise you will truly know why this entire Exam should never have existed in the first place."

"If it should never have existed in the first place, how did it come to be?" Layla asked.

"I cannot say. The oath prevents me from doing so." Faragonda rose from her chair. "There are only two who could answer your questions since neither of them is bound by the oath, but one of them is beyond your reach and I doubt you'd ask the second one."

"Who is the second one then?"

"Lord Darkar."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Ugh…" He shook himself. "I hate reforming. Always takes me ages."

He cracked his neck, wincing when the separate parts screeched. "And I sound as if I need an oiling, which is even worse."

Darkar snarled. "I'd go out there and destroy something if I had the time." He stormed out of the ruined throne-room. "Sadly, I do not."

He threw open a door which had been locked long ago, marching up to the untouched table in the room. "At least my wards protected this room from collapsing."

He stopped at the table, leaning heavily on it. There were runes on it, glowing brightly in the gloom of Shadowhaunt.

"RAAAARGH!" One of the few windows of the room was suddenly twice its' size as the Phoenix blasted into its' general direction. He glowed red with fury as his eyes burned with unholy flames. What shadow-creatures had reformed fled away from the room, instinct telling them that death was coming.

"How dare you?" He snarled, eyes fixed on the glowing runes. "How dare you, fairy?" His voice echoed through his kingdom, making the shadows seem that much darker. "I ended that, Faragonda, I ended it by killing him and you go and REINSTATE IT?"

He paced in the room. "I have half a mind to just kill her and be over with it." He stopped, staring at the table. "Then again, she knows better. She went through that herself."

His head snapped up. "Guests? This early?" He tilted his head. "And the Dragonfire to booth?"

He exited the room, slamming the door closed behind him. The wards activated the moment the metal touched the damp stone that made up his fortress.

He did not see how the red glow of his magic covered it, having already flown out of the window to meet his 'guests'.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Sky followed Bloom as she made her way across one of the few remaining bridges. Shortly after their talk with the Headmistress of Alfea the three examinees had decided to risk it and go to Darkar for answers. Obviously none of their friends had been that happy with the decision, deciding to join them.

"It's the only way we will get answers, besides actually doing the thing." Bloom answered. "And I'm feeling less and less inclined to do that."

"Smart girl." A monstrous bird rose from underneath the bridge. "Even I do advise you not to do that."

"Darkar." Bloom said, watching as the bird changed into a man once more. "So you truly do not stay dead?"

"Not really." He looked at the assembly in front of him. "Why are you here?"

"Faragonda told us you can tell us about the exam." Layla stated.

"And you are desperate enough to come and ask me?" He chuckled. "Very well, but the answers come at a price: I want to know why that bloody thing is being practiced again. Every little detail."