By the time we reached Alfea it was 1:30 in the morning. Good thing it was Saturday. We can all sleep in.
The boys drop us off at the gate and gave their goodnights' to the girls. Rascal was panting hard but still managed to wag his tail when the boys each gave him a pat. I shifted back to human form before I landed so I stumbled a bit. I was also exhausted. Ever flown about 8 miles in a form that feels weird? Yeah. Tiring.
"Night." The boys called. I waved and the girls exchanged one last kiss with their boyfriends before slipping through the gate. Rascal and I waited for them to catch up before turning and heading to the building. Stella and Bloom were first to drop off. The 5 of us bade them goodnight. Next it was Layla and Musa. We bade them goodnight. Same as with Flora and Tecna.
Well, I told an exhausted Rascal. Here we are. I took out my key and unlocked the door. Rascal padded in, head, tail, and ears all dropping in exhaustion. He curled up in a corner and fell promptly asleep. I locked the door behind me and started to shed cloths as I headed for the shower. I went and took a warm bath. I dried, brushed teeth, and slipped on pajamas. Then I curled up in bed, wet hair fanning out on my pillow, and fell asleep.
"Look, either you marry me and your friends live and you find out what happened to Trakdyon, or you never find out and your friends can call you a traitor."
"Ariella! You should tell us. I thought you trusted us."
"We need you."
"Ari you liar! You always were true to yourself. I looked up at you. Mom was right!"
"No! Maddy, I'm sorry."
"I always thought I could trust you. Seems I was wrong."
"That isn't true, Tecna! You can trust me."
"You were a fake!"
"No! No! Why can't you hear me?"
"Ari…"
"Listen to me!"
"Ari…"
"Ari!"
"Ari! Ariella wake up! Ari!"
My eyes flew open. Someone was leaning over me. I burst into tears.
"I still have 3 days!"
"Ari it's me, Angelyca. Your roommate. Remember me? It's okay." I heard a whine and something wet and cold was thrust into my palm. I dried my face.
"What happened?" I sniffled. I heard the whine again and it registered as Rascal, concerned about me. Angelyca sat back.
"You were having a nightmare. Rascal was pawing at your door when I came out of the bathroom and had to open the door to see what was going on. The way he was reacting I thought you were dying or something," she said with a smile, but the worry for me was still there. Boy, Alfea made me feel at home and loved. I gave a watery chuckle and sat up. I looked at her honest green eyes.
"You're going somewhere," I said. She smiled and stood up. She was wearing a red t-shirt with a mini jean skirt. Her black hair was half up and half down and curly as always.
"My first date. What do you think?" she was nervous that was written all over her face.
"That's great! You look fantastic. Oh wait." Her smile faded and she grew panicky all over again. My roommate was very shy. I slid off my bed and undid the clip that held back her hair letting her curls fall forward. "Much better and relax it'll turn out great I promise. Now get out of here and have fun. We can dish later." She smiled again and turned to leave.
"Bye!" I heard the door click and I knew she was gone. I slumped over and looked at Rascal.
"Was I really that bad?" Rascal whined and pawed my hand. I slid to the floor and wrapped my arms around his neck hiding my face in his fur.
I've decided to tell them.
I know.
I got up and sauntered over to the bathroom kicking my clothes that I had dropped yesterday into a pile along with my shoes. I locked the bathroom door and turned the sink to cold. I washed my face and did everything bathroom related. Then I grabbed a brush and tied my hair back into a very messy ponytail. Time to clean.
"Oh joy," I muttered to myself. I went back to my room and rummaged through my underwear drawer to search for the comfiest bra I had.
Rascal, do you know where I put my comfy bra. Rascal padded over to me.
Are you really asking me that? I don't even know what a bra is! I sighed disappointed.
I guess I'm stuck with the sports one.
Sure. Whatever. I slipped my pajama t-shirt over my head and slipped into the confining sports bra. I put my t-shirt back on and fixed my shorts. These were my favorite shorts. They are tiny and black, but the best part is the two prints on the back. A white wolf print and a white hand print. They belong to me and Rascal. My t-shirt was ripped and over sized so it was baggy. I grabbed my iPod and placed on the earphones. I turned it up and bobbed my head along with the beat. It was from the CD Musa had made me for my 16th birthday. I clipped it to the waist band of my shorts and went to go put my heels in my closet and clothes in the hamper. I went into the closet for cleaning equipment and snatched the vacuum. I flipped on the switch and started to clean. Rascal got up and ran to my room to hide. From my singing or the vacuum I wasn't exactly sure. Or it might have been both.
Can you stop that awful noise! Yup, definitely both. Sometimes I'm not sure which he hates more: the vacuum or my singing. I was gifted with animals, folks, not singing. That's more of Musa's area of expertise. Rascal crept to the door and started howling and scratching at it. I frowned turned off the vacuum and shut off my iPod, took out the earphones and draped them around my neck. I opened the door and saw Stella there. Along with the 5 others.
"Hey," she said. The girls piled into the dorm and settled on the couch.
I closed the door.
"Thanks for the warning! I was cleaning. It's Saturday. You know I clean on Saturdays."
"I don't know why," said Stella always the typical princess. "The house maids do it for us." I rolled my eyes.
"Besides," Flora commented. "We need to talk. Stella said that you met some guy at the club last night and you hit it off with him." I raised my eyebrow. Rascal ambled over to Flora and sat at her feet.
"Did she?" I looked over at Stella. She shrugged. I sat on the table that was between the two couches.
"You know I'm right." I pressed my lips together. She was right.
"Fine," I sighed. "I did meet some guy. Don't get so excited. I only danced with him then talked."
"And?"
"And nothing happened. I gave him my number and that was about it."
"What did you talk about?"
"Ourselves," I said shrugging. "I learned he goes to Red Fountain, he knows I come here and that's about it." They stared at me. "What?"
"That's it?" I nodded. "Was he cute?"
"He was cute, he had a nice body, he was a good dancer, he has my number and that's it. What'd you expect?" Stella shook her head like I was a lost cause.
"Do you know his name," Layla asked hopefully.
"Yeah. Jake. Obviously short for Jacob."
"She still might make it, Stella. She isn't completely hopeless."
"Yet," Musa added. I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed.
Don't forget to tell them.
I will. Not now though.
Now is the best time.
"It's never the best time Rascal." Oops. They looked at me curiously.
"Never the best time for what?" Tecna asked suspiciously. I looked down. I couldn't get out of this one.
"If I needed help, could I ask you for it?" Layla draped her arm over my shoulder.
"Of course."
I looked up at them and looked them each in the eye.
"I mean a really big favor. Like getting-rid-of-someone big." I had their attention. I had all of their attention.
"That depends," Stella said curiously, "on whom we're getting rid of." Flora nodded in agreement.
"And how we're going to get rid of them."
I looked back down at my hands which I was twisting.
"To answer the who it's a man from my home country, and how really doesn't matter. We just need to get rid of him so he doesn't get what he wants."
"What does he want?" I hesitated.
"He wants my hand in marriage and to be King." The other's gasped and gave exclamations of surprise and anger.
"Wait," it dawned on Tecna what I said. "How does marrying you make him King? Unless you're queen and not princess?"
"He knows what's happening at home. And he did call me Queen Ariella. According to him my mom left me the kingdom which is odd because I was her least favorite daughter for various reasons."
"So now you're a queen?"
"I'm confused," Stella wailed.
"Well," Layla concluded. "There is a simple solution to all this. We go to Trakdyon and find out what's going on." I shook my head.
"I said I'd meet him at midnight in 3 days at a clearing in the forest." They were quiet, each thinking.
Can I throw something in?
Always. You do anyways.
We show them the clearing and have them come with us. He never said anything about coming without a pack.
"Rascal," I declared. "You're brilliant!"
I know I am thanks. The girls looked from me to Rascal and back again.
"He said that you guys can come with us because the guy never said anything about going without support which is true, he didn't. But you'll need to come in your Enchantix, this guy already has his Phoenix and his Doberman is huge."
"What do you mean by Phoenix?"
I looked at Flora.
"One step below Dragon," I told her seriously. "He might already have his Dragon even in these 3 days."
She made an O with her mouth.
"What beats Dragon," asked Tecna. I shrugged.
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing? Something has to beat it!" Stella cried.
"I don't remember any Dragon that was killed, or a Phoenix. A Phoenix, I remember someone told me once can be killed but it is extremely difficult to do so. And Dragon," I blew out a breath. "That I've never heard of. Only old age."
"What about Faery Dust? That should do the trick?" Bloom asked hopefully. I shook my head.
"I don't know I guess we can try. But only if he attacks." We were quiet again and suddenly my phone rang. I looked at it confused. Who'd be calling now? The only person I thought it'd be was Angelyca but she was on a date. I was going to just let it ring when I saw Stella pick it up.
"Hello, this is Stella speaking; who may I say is calling?"
Great. She had to pick it up? I got up and walked over to her and held my hand out for the phone.
"Wait, here she is," she smiled and handed me the phone. I rolled my eyes and put it to my ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Ari," it was a guy, that was obvious, and the voice was familiar.
"Who is this?"
"It's Jake, remember me?"
"Of course I remember you. The cutie that has a nice body. How can I forget?" I teased.
He laughed. "You busy today?"
"Hmm. I'm cleaning today. Why?"
"Oh," he said disappointed. "Just curious if you wanted to go out somewhere, but you're busy so, I guess not."
"Look," I said. "If you're going to make assumptions like that I won't anywhere with you. I said I was cleaning not busy those are two different things!"
"Wow. You do have a temper. So will you go out with me?"
"Sure."
"Great. Tomorrow night at 8?"
"Sounds good."
There were voices in the background.
The phone rustled.
"Hello?"
"Ari, its Timmy can you put Tecna on." I sighed.
"What is this? My dorm isn't a city hall! What makes you think she's here anyway?"
"Well, Stella picked up your phone, so that means everyone else is there."
"Whatever. Tecna! Telephone!" I handed it to her. She took the telephone from me and started to chat with Timmy. I went and took her place on the couch, curling my feet underneath me.
"So? What he say?"
"Stella!"
"What? I only want to know."
"He only asked me out. It's not that big of a deal." I shrugged casually. She gave me a look of horror.
"Only asked you out! Only? And what does not that big of a deal mean? It's a big deal!" she jumped to her feet on the sofa waving her hands in the air emphasizing her point. I crossed my arms.
"No it isn't. Besides I said yes. I could have said no." she dropped her arms to her sides and flounced down.
"Oh. That's good. And it isn't as big of a deal as the guy from Trakdyon that's here, so I guess you're allowed not to be so excited." Tecna came over. She was frowning.
"Timmy says that Valtor was once again spotted. We should head over to help the boys out." We all got up.
"Let's go, what are we waiting for?"
I sighed. It doesn't look as if I'd be cleaning my room anytime soon.
Come on Rascal. It's let's-go-see-Valtor time.
Islipped on sneakers as the girls got into their Enchantix. I shifted my t-shirt into a tank top as Stella opened a portal. Flora looked at me.
"You're going to fight Valtor or the Trix like that?"
"No. I plan on shifting, once we get there." She shrugged. And stepped through. Rascal and I stepped through last and Stella closed the portal. I looked around.
"Where is everybody?" I walked away from the group Rascal followed me nose to the ground.
A fight definitely went on here. This way. He bounded off and I followed.
"This way. Rascal found something!" the girls' ran after me.
"You know," Stella said. "You really should join our group."
"I agree. A 7th Winx girl." Musa pulled up on my left.
"We can discuss this later." Sounds of fighting became louder.
"Go fly up on ahead, I'll get there soon enough." I pointed toward the clashing and explosions. They nodded and flew away.
We're close by. Shift now, Rascal commanded.
Got it. I stopped and closed my eyes. I shifted into a Griffin. Waist up turned into an eagle. Waist down went lion. Wings yanked free of my back and I spread them as wide as the trees would allow. I shook my feathered head.
Let's keep going.
Why? We're here. Don't get yourself killed.
Don't worry, I won't. You be careful. He slipped from the trees and stopped.
What happened?
The head human seemed to have gotten himself a mob. I'll help out your pack. Then he headed off into another direction. I lunged and broke free of the trees. I reared, flapping my wings, and let out a screech. The field went quiet. I went back onto all fours and walked in. I now saw what Rascal meant about the mob. He had zombified witches helping out the trix. Some turned to attack me. I swept them to the side and leaped into the air. The witches followed me. I raked at them with my claws and they fell back. They surged forward again but for some reason they fell back. I dove after them but something blocked me. It was a Roc.
Ariella! The man from the forest is here! Watch out you don't run into him. I flapped back and flew up.
Too late. He caught up with me and knocked me back. The one place I could go was down. I dove straight down, pressing my wings along my back. I spread my wings when it looked like I was going to crash and scraped the ground with my claws and flew back up. I didn't have to look to know that he crashed. I landed and didn't notice that the zombified army had disappeared along with the trix, or the fact that I and the man were getting all the attention.
I have the Doberman trapped. You won't get any trouble from him.
Thanks. The man shifted into his human form and got to his feet. He spread his hands.
"How can we talk if you don't shift?" I slitted my eyes at him. I didn't move.
"Coward. How can you protect your country if you don't shift back?"
I screamed at him and flapped my wings. I shifted back into human and propped my hand on my hip.
"Better?" I glared.
He grinned cruelly.
"Much." In one swift movement he plucked a blade of grass, shifted it into a spear and threw it at me. I lunged at it and caught it. He just gave me a weapon. He laughed.
"Do you even know how to use that?"
I smirked.
"Why don't you find out?"
He shifted into a hound and lunged at me. I sidestepped and lashed out with the spear. He howled in pain as the spear cut his side open.
"Hmm. Interesting. It looks like I just cut your side open." I mocked. He bared his teeth and growled. Trying to find an opening he circled me. I followed him. He seemed to be waiting me out. He wanted me to shift, but I had no plans on doing that. He jumped at me, hoping to catch me off guard. I was ready for him. I spun and slashed his back. He yelped and lost his shape. He glared at me.
"Face it; I'm more dangerous than you thought."
He hissed at me.
"Little Queen, your mother was mistaken in leaving you the kingdom! At this rate you'll end up with her fate if you keep running! So stop fighting what you are and give in!" with that he shifted into a heavily bleeding sparrow and flew off.