I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.

Liatris had been excited and willing to learn in the beginning. She decided to ignore Bloom's sniping, and try hard, just to show her former friend and herself that she could do it. That she wanted to be here.

But now weeks later, none of that excitement remained. Not only Liatris but also Willow had gone from an excited happy person to well, a quiet and moody person.

Their will to learn had dimmed down over the weeks, as they made no progress at all. Liatris had not been able to summon any of her power, and Willow only a speck of what she had done the first day. As their classmates progressed and most of them started to gain their first transformations, Willow and Liatris just seemed to be stuck in place.

On their theory classes both did fairly well, in some like History, even great. But their practical classes, be it Potions or just try to summon their powers, they were failing. It had all started with a simple exercise, changing their haircolour or texture, but even that they could not do. And their classmates, most girls of sixteen and seventeen years, could only laugh and snicker.

Willow sighed as she took her books and walked outside, a sullen expression on her face. Liatris had still been sick today, running a fever and her tattood stars glowing red and feeling burning to the touch. Willow had however spoken to the nurse and confirmed that Liatris was better, so she would be joining her in the afternoon.

Willow walked into the cafetaria and ignored the snickers of the first years, as she continued walking and saw Liatris sitting, eating a little bit of lunch. She was still flushed red, but she seemed better than she had been in days.

'How are you feeling?' Liatris smiled and shrugged. 'Better. Thank you for allowing to copy your notes, I do not want to fall behind even more.' Willow smiled at her friend as she grasped her hand, feeling instantly better.

'How was your class?' Willow sighed, shaking her head. 'Don't mention it. It's getting worse and worse. We are the only ones who have not transformed yet. I wonder if...' 'What?' Willow smiled sadly as she took a bite of her plate.

'Maybe, even if we have powers, we are not made to be fairies.' Liatris shared her sad smile, sighing. 'I have thought that as well. Maybe we are not made for this.' 'Maybe...'

'Let's make a deal. If in about two months nothing has changed, we're dropping out. We'll be able to save some more and go the next year to college on Earth.' Willow nodded also, feeling better now that they had made a decision. 'You're right.'

'What's our next class?' 'Winxology.' Liatris rolled her eyes but continued eating, eventually standing up as lunch ended and following their classmates to their class.

Tecna welcomed them with a smile, as Liatris nodded, her long hair swaying behind her. Willow sat next to Liatris as she unpacked her stuff, Musa introducing their subject of the day.

'We're going to try a new exercise today. Something to connect to your Winx and make you grow even stronger.' 'Than Liatris and Willow should probably not participate.' Marin said out loud, her comment received by laughs and snickering.

'And why is that, Marin?' Layla asked, her eyebrows raised, clearly not impressed by her student's answer. 'Did you not know Professor? Willow can barely call upon her powers and Liatris not at all, they are also the only ones that did not transform yet.' Liatris blushed and looked down to her textbook, Willow biting her lip.

'Is that so? Willow, Liatris?' Stella asked, both girls nodding but keeping silent. 'Did you not know that in the darkness, the brightest stars shine?' Stella continued. 'And what does that mean Professor?' Marin asked.

'It means that you should never underestimate anyone. People that may seem weak can be among the most powerful.' Flora answered, as a silence fell over their class. 'Look at Bloom, she had never transformed either when she arrived and she turned out to be one of the strongest fairies to have ever existed.'

'So do you Flora.' Bloom answered as she came walking in. 'Anyway, we're going to continue. What you need to do is...' Liatris blocked Bloom's voice out, not seeing the interest in listening. Her classmates may be mean, but they did not say anything she did not already know.

She did not transform and she could not connect to her powers. It was sad, but the harsh truth nonetheless.

'Split up in pairs and get to work.' 'What are we supposed to do?' Liatris whispered to Willow, who had fortunately listened. 'Try and create something with your powers. You know, a spell or a defensive barrier. We're going outside for that one by the way.'

Liatris sighed again as she followed her best friend out of the room, seeing it was a dreary and grey day today. Just like she felt, perfect.

They were standing on the schoolgrounds, most girls jittery and excited. Liatris had to admit the Winx looked beautiful in their transformation, Sirenix was it called?

'For those who can, you may transform.' Everyone did, apart from Liatris and Willow. Willow groaned, shuffling her feet as Liatris looked in wonder to their classmates.

'Do not despair, Willow. You'll get there.' Musa said, as Willow bit her lip again, some unshed tears in her eyes. 'Why don't you two try to make a barrier? It is a defensive spell you can call upon without needing to transform.'

Liatris nodded and sat down with Willow, both girls sitting crosslegged facing each other. Liatris had to admit she did not even try. Her friend was however plunged in deep concentration, but nothing seemed to happen.

Willow's forehead creased as she tried to connect to her Winx, her own magic. But it was no use. A silent tear slid from Willow's eye as she stopped, panting. 'It is no use. I suck at this. I'm done.'

Liatris looked sadly at her best friend who was doing her best not to cry, a whole day of failures finally making her crack. 'Don't give up so quickly Willow. I have an idea. Can you go ahead and call Lein? She is a fairy with healing powers.' Flora said to Layla, who nodded and went to their classmate.

'This will be an exercise for you as well, Lein. Try to find their powers and tell me what you feel.' Their classmate, a kind girl with glasses, nodded as she took Willow's and Liatris' hand. She seemed to feel for a moment, a bright yellowy light appearing from her hands.

'Your powers seem blocked. Like they are stuck behind a wall.' Liatris thanked Lein, who smiled at them and went to join the others.

'Stuck behind a wall?' Flora hummed. 'I think that you two do not really believe in yourself. For your powers to trigger, you need to believe and have confidence you can do it. In your case Willow, I think you still do not believe you can do this and you Liatris...Maybe it has to do with the fact that you are scared to let your powers lose, scared of what they could do. Reflect on that, I'll see you our next lesson.'

Liatris and Willow both seemed out of it for the rest of the day, but both girls noticed their earlier conversation had made them think about it. What if they really did not believe in theirselves?

Liatris sat on their windowsill that evening, looking at the full moon that shone so incredibly bright that night. 'What are you thinking?' Willow asked. 'I am thinking that Lein and Professor Flora may be right. Maybe I really am scared to use my powers, knowing what they were born out of.'

'I think I... do not believe I can pull this off. I cannot believe that I of all people am a fairy...' Her best friend admitted.

'No one ever said it was going to be easy, but I do believe it is worth it.' Liatris answered. 'I think so as well.' 'Let's try again tomorrow, okay? With fresh courage.'

Liatris rolled her eyes playfully as Willow tied their pinkies together. 'Deal.'

The next morning, both Willow and Liatris seemed to have some of their sunny demeanour back. Both were joking at breakfast, laughing at each other's antics.

'Time for Professor's Wizkiz' class. Let's take this bitch down.' Willow said as Liatris snickered. 'Yes.'

As the days followed, both Willow and Liatris did not exactly progress much, but they did not give up. And that was finally starting to pay off. Liatris could finally call upon some of her powers, and Willow's power was getting stronger as well. They got even a compliment in their Potions' class, as it was one of the very few that had turned out right.

Both friends went to their Winxology class, feeling much better about themselves. They were standing on the grounds again, their Professors transformed as well.

'Go back into the pairs of our last lesson and get to work.' Bloom amended, going to help some fairies. Willow nodded and dragged Liatris with her, both girls once again sitting crosslegged and facing each other.

Liatris gave an encouraging smile to her friend as both closed their eyes and tried. Liatris felt her head go empty, hearing the sounds of the forest in the distance and some birds chirping.

And than she remembered, everything anyone said about her power.

'The Dark Stars were born out of eternal darkness.' 'You are the wielder of that power.' 'Maybe you are afraid to use them because you fear what your powers can do if you lose control.'

'Do not give up, okay? We'll get through this together.'

'Do not forget, you were chosen. The Dark Stars would not have picked you if they did not think you worthy of being able to protect and control them.'

That's when something shifted. Liatris felt something akin to burning in her hands, as if holding a star shimmering with darkness, but good darkness, in her hands. As Liatris opened her eyes, she could see the shocked expression on Willow's face. Her friend was standing up, having a shield of silver around her.

The fairy of the Dark Stars felt the power simmering in her veins and her gut, finally understanding her powers had fully awakened.

'BARRIER!' she called out, as all the stars on her body began to burn, but not in a bad way. A rubyred barrier appeared, and not an unclear one like so many weeks ago, but a clear one.

'We did it! Liatris!' Willow called out as Liatris grinned at her friend. Than she heard a gasp. Willow blinked as little silver lights seemed to appear around her entire body, eventually exploding into a bright silver light.

That's when Liatris knew Willow was transforming.

Her friend's hair put itself into a french braid, a silver crop top with sleeves and golden lining appearing. A wavy silver skirt with ruffles was next, the lining of the ruffles also in gold.

Silver ankle boots with a golden wedge heel appeared on Willow's feet. A golden shimmer appeared on her eyelids as did two silver studs on her ears.

Finally two wings, with the form of the wings of a cicada, appeared out of her back, the wings itself silver with again golden linings.

Willow blinked as she looked at her new transformed self, Liatris grabbing her friend in a hug. 'You did it!' 'You're next!' Willow grinned but Liatris could only laugh.

'I managed to make a barrier, and for now, that is enough.'