Thanks for the reviews. I am working on the other future story as well now, so I should be posting the first chapter of that soon. It will center around the younger (freshmen) siblings mostly, the ones mentioned at the very end of Between Two Times (Bud, Luna, Diana, Artemis) as well as some new friends they meet (Nixie of Tides (daughter of a baron), Aaron of Draco (son of a Duke), and Sirius of Solaria (kind of a Brandon character)) as well as involve the older siblings in the grades they should be in (Brandon, Jr., Angel, Mech, Celeste, etc.) and the friends they had made in this future (Marvel, Trend, Trine, (and Chase as he was never under Krannert's influences)) and Prince Charm of Tides (as Layla and Nabu have children in this universe). Special guest appearances from Minstrel and Glee (Riven and Musa's children) and Heaven (Angel's 12-year-old sister not yet in school. And then there are the bad guys (Kay, Arthur, Chill, Frosty, Ebony, Opaque, Vila, Zeph, Cyclone) including a bad guy of Eraklyon that we only hear about once (forgot his name for the moment, but he claimed to have kidnapped Diaspro) and the Trix. And we mustn't forget about the peppy sophomore class president at Alfea with a crush on Brandon, Jr., the guys all fighting for Celeste's attention, the exchange witches, young love, kidnappings, a new Crystal with hypnotic powers, Angel's new team, roommate wars, whether or not Angel and Brandon will be able to survive their younger siblings dating as well, mysteries from the past, and much much more. It'll be epic.
A special thanks to PhoebeQueenOfDragons, angelgrl31392, and Nisa Tunesque.
Job Offer
Mech,
As the head of Inter-Planetary Rescue Agency (IPRA), it is my pleasure to inform you that you have been chosen to be a seventh member on our elite Alpha Squad, a squad that travels over the whole universe and handles the most difficult catastrophes that the world had to offer. Unlike our other squads, the Alpha Squad has the ability to handle anything from a tyrant attacking a planet to saving people in a world that has been completely destroyed, and even rescuing people living where a epidemic has wiped out half the population. It is the most important rescue squad in the universe.
Though you did not apply for a position in IPRA, your headmaster personally spoke to me about you and invited me to view your testing. You are an extremely talented young man. Upon viewing your record, I see that you performed better in your years at Red Fountain than most of IPRA's agents have done at lesser schools and that your track record for successful missions in near perfection. Unlike most of my men, you have personally battled Krannert, and while you were not the one to finally stop him, you survived without a scratch.
Before accepting or rejecting this offer, there are a few important notifications that I must inform you of. First, there is a training program you will have to pass (but if your testing was any indication of your talents, then you will have no difficulty passing the program after an abbreviated training). Second, there is a minimum five-year commitment to any squad if you should not join the Alpha Squad. The Alpha Squad has a seven-year commitment with very little vacation time. Lastly, the payment for the lesser squads is $250,000 a year untaxed and the Alpha Squad members receive $600,000 for every year, along with $50,000 sent to any family that is left behind. It also comes with special benefits (including free vacations to the hottest places after your time as a special agent is over) and every planet in all known realms will officially knight you.
Please think about this offer for you are a hero unlike any other.
Special Agent Idale, IPRA Alpha Squadron Leader
Mech stared down at the letter. No matter what he chose to do, he won and lost. If he accepted, as he was very tempted to do, he'd make a fortune that he could earn nowhere else and he'd even be a celebrity (the Alpha Squad made no attempt to stay out of the public eye), but he'd have to leave his parents and Celeste behind for seven years. He had no idea how'd he ever connect with his parents after not knowing them for twenty years total, even if he was helping them to make a living. And seven years was more than enough time for Celeste to meet another man who she could love and marry and have kids with. He might finish his job only to discover she is the mother of three.
On the other hand, if he didn't accept the offer, he'd have to take a lower job, wouldn't make much money, and have to worry about living his whole life. He'd be able to stay close to those he loved, but even staying close would not be enough for Celeste. She was happiest when she was clad in designer labels, and while that would be no problem for her, he'd never be able to buy her anything nice. And what would his parents think of him if he had a chance to do something wonderful with his life and turn it down. He would be viewed as selfish, caring more about himself than the world.
"What you got there, Four-Eyes?" Trine asked walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips. He looked down at the paper Mech help. "I thought you said you didn't apply to IPRA."
"I didn't," Mech said. "Saladin talked to the head for me and they want me after seeing my tests."
"Alpha Squad," Trine said with wide eyes. "I thought that squad was filled."
"Apparently they made an opening for me," Mech said, dropping his head onto his desk. "What am I going to do?"
"Take it," Trine said. He grabbed a highlighter from Mech's drawer. "And here's why." He highlighted the benefits of the Alpha Squad. "That will make you almost as powerful as Marvel is."
"But what about Celeste?" Mech asked. "And my parents. I can't leave them for seven years."
"You have a little vacation time," Trine said. "Write every day to all of them. And, you'll travel so often across the universe, you can make pit stops for a lunch with Celeste every time you pass Solaria."
"It's not the same as knowing that she's there for me," Mech said. "And I won't be there for her, more importantly."
"Look, Mech," Trine said as he dug around for clean clothes. "The difference between the Solarian Guard and IPRA is the difference between a boy and a man. The difference between the Solarian Guard and IPRA Alpha Squad is the difference between a five-year-old girl in a pink frilly dress and a man worthy to be King of the Universe."
"The difference between the Solarian Guard and IPRA is the distance from Celeste's heart, Trine," Mech moaned. "I don't care what it makes me look like to the world. But I do care what it makes me look like to Celeste and my parents."
"Whatever you choose, make sure it is right for you, not right for Celeste," Trine said. He finished pulling on his clothes. "We're going to a club in about half an hour. You want to come?"
Mech shook his head. "I have something to do and I really have to think about this," he waved the paper, "and talk about it to my parents."
Trine shrugged. "I'll keep Celeste occupied, in that case."
"If she complains to me I will not hesitate to kill you," Mech said as he grabbed his portable holophone. He dialed his parents' number. It rang twice before Tecna picked up.
"Mech, what a surprise to hear from you," she said with a smile. "Oh, is something wrong? You don't look happy."
Mech sighed as Trine left the room. "I have a difficult decision to make." He sighed, then asked, "How badly do we need money?"
"Money is not important to your father or me," Tecna said. "Despite being behind on the current technology and a little short on money, we'll get by. We can teach ourselves everything we need to know about the most up-to-date technology in no time and secure jobs in the field in no time. After all, it has only been a few months since we were released from Krannert's imprisonment."
"I've been offered a job, Mom," Mech finally said. "And it pays very well."
"That's wonderful," Tecna said, "but, remember, money is not everything. What's the down side?"
"I'll be on constant duty for seven years," Mech said. "And I won't be able to spend time with you or Dad or Celeste."
"You have to think about what is important for you," Tecna said.
"Six-hundred thousand dollars a year," Mech said. Tecna was slack-jawed and silent. "In addition to fifty thousand dollars that will go to you and dad, and I'd be knighted, and celebrity status. It's the hardest job to get, pretty much. I had to ace my exams, both written and field, and my record had to be close to spotless. It's, well, it's not a job one ever turns down. Then again, I didn't apply for it."
"Well, Mech," Tecna said slowly. "It sounds like a great opportunity for you. You'd be set for life. And you'd see the whole universe, go on great adventures. Is it what you want?"
Mech sighed. He did want it. He had dreamed of joining IPRA when he was younger, until he discovered how difficult it was to get looked at even. It was his thirteenth birthday wish to be accepted. And now he was. "I'll write at least once a week, probably more," he said. "And I'll visit you as often as I can."
Celeste sighed. A few weeks earlier, Mech had suddenly become distant with her. The dates they went on were on picnics and to the local parks and cheap attractions. She knew Mech wasn't rich, and that he often borrowed money from her brother and Marvel when the group went to lunch or clubs, but he always used to scrap up enough money to take her to dinner and dancing. Now she had just gotten a call from him, asking her to a picnic dinner by the lake.
She agreed, of course. If there was something wrong, she didn't want to make it any worse with her whining. If Mech wanted to break up with her and just didn't have the nerve, she wasn't going to give him a good reason to. The end of the school year was fast approaching and he'd be graduating. He didn't know what he'd be doing yet, or if he did, he hadn't told her what it was. Her brother had been accepted as a fighter pilot for the combined Solarian-Eraklyon-Sparks forces. She knew from Trend that Marvel had always been very interested in politics and would be an official Popularis representative in the IPC, as well as learning to rule Popularis so that he would one day be a fine ruler. And, according to Angel, Trine was thinking of running for a spot in the Eraklyon government, much like his father had. But, Mech's future was as much a mystery to her as his behavior.
"You look sexy," Violet said coming into the dorm room. In the recent weeks, especially after her parents had come in to visit the twins, Violet's tendencies and looks became much more witchlike than ever before. Even when Violet had attended Cloud Tower, she had still acted and looked like a fairy. She now had a purple eyebrow ring, wore large dream catcher earrings at all times, kept her hair in its bun with the assistance of crossed metal rods, and wore thick, dark eye make-up at all times. Also, despite having saved her sister's life during a field exam when a dragon from Red Fountain attacked, an act that would have gained any other girl her Enchantix, Violet did not gain hers. Since Angel had gotten hers, Trend, Daisy, and more than half of their grade had gained their Enchantix during missions and attacks by weak Krannert-wannabes as well as members of Krannert's broken army trying to 'finish Krannert's work.'
"I have a date with Mech," Celeste told Violet. Celeste was wearing a short, form fitting green dress that made her hazel eyes look greener. She was wearing strappy heels, and had played with her hair for an hour and had finally settled on a half ponytail with curled tendrils framing her face.
"Gonna seduce him or something?" Violet asked. Celeste turned to her friend with a surprised look. "Because, if you are, I suggest this lipstick for you lips." Violet held out a rose-pink colored lipstick. It was the color Violet used to wear when she went on dates. Now, Violet wore a darker pink lip-liner.
"I do not plan on seducing Mech," Celeste said, snatching the lipstick from Violet's hand. "But if it will keep him from breaking up with me…" she carefully applied the lipstick. She then grabbed her eye-liner and carefully traced her eyes in dark brown, just to make them look a tiny bit bigger. From a distance, the eye make-up was not noticeable.
"Why would Mech break up with you?" Violet asked. She began smelling Celeste's perfume, choosing an expensive Charmberry one for the princess to wear on her date.
"I don't know," Celeste said, tilting her head up so she wouldn't cry. "He's just been distant lately. And, I'm just afraid."
"Princess, that boy loves you with all his heart," Violet said. "And you know I wouldn't lie to you, and if I can notice it, you have to know it's true. Don't worry yourself so much or you'll start getting gray hairs."
Celeste nodded. "Thanks, Vi. But, I gotta get outside because he'll be here any second."
Violet sighed as Celeste ran from the room. In the last few months, Violet had dated three boys. First had been a junior at Red Fountain that dumped her when he found out she had certain witch powers. After that, Marvel had finally gotten the courage to ask her on an official date. It turned out that they had noting in common past Trend, which was the worst possible thing to base a relationship off. The third was a wizard that was being home-schooled just outside of the town. But, when he attacked her friends, trying to learn where Krannert's Crystal was, she had to take him down, using her witch powers.
Celeste noticed, more than ever, that Mech was being distant as they ate their dinner in almost complete silence. Despite Mech's excellent choice of location and the delicious food he had brought, he couldn't look her in the eye. Celeste sighed, afraid that she might have to resort to seducing Mech if it would keep him from breaking up with her. Once they finished eating, Mech asked her to take a walk around the lake. She nodded and took his hand, afraid to speak for fear that she might say the wrong thing.
"So, I guess that summer break is coming soon, for you at least," Mech said after a few minutes.
"Yeah, it is," Celeste said.
"Do you have any plans?" Mech asked, turning to look at her with his aqua eyes.
"Not particularly," Celeste said. "I mean, I'm going on a three week vacation with Brandon and my parents so we can finally connect as a family. How about you?"
Mech sighed. "Well, I'm spending a week at home with my parents, then I start work."
Celeste brightened slightly. "So you know what you're going to do?"
Mech nodded, but his head turned down. He stopped walking and turned so that they were facing one another. "I have a gift for you, Cel," he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a box. It was a small box, so she knew it was a piece of jewelry, but because of its shape, she knew it wasn't a ring. She opened it slowly, but smiled when she saw it. It was a silver locket, probably hand-made and rather expensive. Mech sighed when she smiled, probably glad that he had gotten her something she liked. He took it out of the box and fastened it around her neck for her.
"It's beautiful, Mech," she said. It also explained the cheap dates because it would have cleaned out his bank account to buy the locket.
"Open it," Mech said, his eyes searching her face for any hint that she was lying. She carefully opened it and a hologram appeared of the two of them. She knew that it had been Mech that had designed or altered a hologram photo to fit in the locket perfectly. It was just the two of them, walking in place and hold hands. Knowing Mech, she closed it, and opened it again, this time a hologram of them dancing at the prom from the year earlier. She opened it three more times, finding an image of the two laying on their backs star-gazing, the two goofing around and laughing, and finally, the two of them kissing delicately, but passionately.
"It's wonderful, Mech," she said looking in his eyes. "But, what's the occasion?"
Mech sighed and bit his lip for a moment. "It's a remember me gift," Mech said. Celeste looked at him in confusion. He took a deep breath. "I've been offered a position in the IPRA Alpha Squad." Celeste's breath caught in her chest and he could tell that she knew what was coming next. "After school lets out, I'm going to a two-month training program in the Disastrous Nebula, followed by at least seven years of service." He could feel his eyes grow hot as he continued. "And, it would not be fair to you to keep you waiting for all that time, Princess Celeste."
Tears began to leak from Celeste's hazel eyes. "Don't say that, Mech," she begged him. "I will wait for you, fair or not. Just, just don't say you can't be with me."
"I can't, Cel," Mech choked out. "You could pass up the perfect man while I'm off in different corners of the universe. I don't want you to put you life on pause while I'm gone."
"The perfect man for me is right in front of me, Mech," Celeste practically shouted. "I love you, Mech. I would do anything to be with you."
"Cel, please, listen to me," Mech said taking her hands and looking her in the eyes. Celeste could see that he was close to crying himself. "It would not work. We'll lose touch. Men will be courting you left and right and you'll probably fall for one. I can't go expecting you to have waited for me. You're young, beautiful, and a princess. You could do so much better than me. And, as much as it breaks my heart to say this, it's the truth." He took a breath, preparing himself for he words he feared most. "We can't be together anymore."
Celeste felt her knees collapse as she cried. Mech held her up very carefully. After a moment, she pushed herself away from him. Before he could say anything, she activated her Winx and flew as quickly as she could back to Alfea, leaving Mech alone next to the lake.
Stella was just about to climb into bed after a long day running about Solaria when her phone rang. She rolled her eyes and pressed the receive button for the speakerphone. "Hello?"
"I HATE HIM!" her daughter's voice rang loudly throughout Stella and Brandon's quarters. Brandon, who had been in the bathroom brushing his teeth, looked at his wife through the doorway. "How could he break my heart, Mom?"
"Okay, Celly, baby," Stella cooed. She didn't exactly know how to comfort her daughter best. She had never been dumped before. She picked the phone up to get privacy from Brandon. "Just, you just tell me what happened."
"He's going off to save the world," Celeste cried. "But, he had to break my heart to do it because he's going to be gone for so long. He said he loved me, but how can he do this to me if he does?"
Stella bit her lip. Tecna had told the Winx Club a few weeks earlier that Mech had accepted a job in an elite squad that went around saving the world. She had been too busy congratulating Tecna to realize the effect it would have on Celeste. It was one thing to keep in contact of parents through the Internet, but the two would not be able to keep up a relationship over seven years.
"Sometimes one has to break the heart of the one he or she loves for the greater good of the world, baby," Stella said. "In trying to destroy Baltor, I almost had to give up my beautiful face. Tecna almost lost all her personality. And Musa had to give up her mother." She looked at Brandon, who now was looking at her with a questioning look on his face. 'Mech and Celeste broke up,' Stella mouthed as Celeste was crying and trying to talk at the same time. The general message was that Celeste hated Mech, but still loved him, and she would never be whole again.
After an hour of trying to comfort her daughter, and feeling that she did a poor job of it, Celeste finally released her mother to go to bed. Stella looked at Brandon as he climbed into bed after entertaining himself until Stella had gotten off the phone. "Does it hurt when your heart is broken?" Stella asked looking at Brandon.
"Yeah, it does, baby," Brandon said. "I remember a pain in my chest when I thought I was never going to see you again."
Stella cocked her head. "When was that?"
"When we went with Layla to try to free the pixies in Shadowhaunt," Brandon said. "I got captured by the Queen of Perfection."
"Oh yeah… that." Stella shuddered at the thought.
"But, luckily," Brandon smiled wrapped his arms around Stella, "I don't have to suffer her. Instead, I get to enjoy you." He then quickly pulled his wife over to his side of the bed to lie next to him. "I love you, Stell."
"I love you too, Brandon," Stella snuggled into her husband's chest.
Angel, Trend, and Daisy sat outside of Celeste's room, listening to the girl sob and cry over the phone to her mother. Every time that Celeste used the word 'Hate,' Daisy cringed while Trend sniffed every time Celeste said she still loved Mech. Angel hesitantly knocked of Celeste's door when she finally said good-bye to her mother.
"What do you want?" Celeste called through the door.
"We want to talk to you, Celeste," Angel replied after a moment of shock.
Celeste opened the door a moment later. She had cried all her make-up off and tearstains covered all of her face from her eyes down. The three girls all bit their lip seeing Celeste look anything but perfect.
"First Mech breaks up with me," Celeste began crying hard again. "Now you all think I'm hideous. I hate myself."
"Sweetie, don't say that," Daisy said coming in and leading Celeste to sit on her bed. "You're not hideous. We're just not used to seeing tears on your face."
"You look much better without them," Trend said. "But I think you can pull off the tearstain look. Not even I can do that; my complexion is just too pale."
"We'll go shopping tomorrow," Angel said.
Celeste shook her head. "I just want to cry, okay?" The girls nodded and left.
Please review! Thanks for reading.