Master of the Moon
By realixweatherfairy
Chapter 6: Saving Solaria
About a week later, after intense Enchantix training with Griselda, the Winx heard that the wedding of Stella's father was to take place the next day, a Saturday. Upon hearing about it, Stella became very angry.
"That third rate countess has spelled my father again!" Stella said.
"Hold up, Stel, maybe it's all part of a plan," Bloom said.
"No! That no good third rate countess has spelled him again," Stella said, pointing at the television, "Just look at her! I mean a purple ball gown in the fall! News flash, Cassandra! You don't look like a queen, you look like a game show hostess! Oh, my poor dad! I have to stop this wedding, you guys will help me won't you?"
"Of course, Stel, why wouldn't we?" Tsukiko said, taking a peek at Julian who stood on the balcony. He happened to look her way and she turned away blushing. Stella saw this and looked pleased and said, "So, any ideas on how we're going to get into the palace?" Tsukiko thought for a bit; then it came to her. "I know," she said, "My Grandmama got an invitation to the wedding, get this, I can use the Illusion card and disguise ourselves as her ladies-in-waiting!"
"That's a great plan, Tsuki!" Bloom said.
"I'll have to call Grandmama and ask her permission first," Tsukiko said, "I'll be right back," and went into her room to use the phone. While she was gone, the rest of the Winx turned to Julian who asked, "What?"
"I saw the way you looked at Tsuki, Julian," Stella said, "You have crush on her, don't you?"
"Uh, uh," Julian said, but Bloom said, "Don't worry. We won't tell her," and saw his pale face, "What's wrong?"
"I'm not a very good guardian, am I? I'm supposed to protect her, not fall in love with her," he replied.
"Julian, you can't help how you feel. It just happens sometimes," Bloom said, "but I think you should tell her. That's just what I think." What they didn't know was that Tsukiko had heard the whole thing and was blushing. She was on the verge of tears, but was able to hold them back and composed herself in order to be able face her friends. When she walked in they were all back in the places they were when she left.
"What'd she say?" Stella asked.
"Grandmama said that she expects us for tea on Realix in half an hour," Tsukiko said. She may have looked calm on the outside, but on the inside she was screaming. "Julian admitted that he's in love with me! But it's not real until he tells me himself."
Later after getting permission from Faragonda and Saladin to go, the Winx and the Specialists met up in Alfea's courtyard, where Tsukiko created a portal and they left. It only took them a few minutes to get to Realix. When they got there, they were shocked to see that Realix was the exact opposite of Solaria. It looked exactly the same, but instead of having a sun, the moon shone high.
"This place is the exact opposite of Solaria!" Stella said. Tsukiko looked totally at peace and said, "Home sweet home!" and lead them towards the palace gates. Recognizing her immediately, the guards opened the gates and let them pass. Looking forward, they saw and old woman who could have passed for Tsukiko's mother, only the woman had reddish grayish hair with brown eyes. On seeing Tsukiko, the woman smiled and said, "Welcome back, you have been greatly missed, my dear Moon Princess."
"It's good to be back, Grandmama," Tsukiko said, curtseying, and the others following her lead. The woman turned to guy and girl individually and guessed their names automatically, which stunned them. Amelia laughed and said, "I recognized you all because Tsukiko has told me so much about you all. There will be no need for formalities. You are like family to Tsukiko," which made Tsukiko beam. "Please come in. We shall have some tea."
As they enjoyed their tea, Tsukiko explained their plan to her grandmother, who seemed very glad that they had come to her for help and said, "I am so glad that you came to me. I've always hated that lame brain countess Cassandra and her moron daughter Chimera. So, you plan to disguise yourselves as my ladies-in-waiting. It's a wonderful plan!" By now everyone had finished their tea, she continued, "Seeing as it's a two day journey to Solaria, I suggest we leave now," and lead them to the ship and it took off immediately.
While on the ship, Amelia revealed the fact that Tsukiko's mother, Christianna, Bloom's mother, Miriam, and Stella's mother, Luna were sisters and her daughters, making them cousins and her granddaughters. Tsukiko seemed to take this in stride, but Bloom and Stella were genuinely shocked and couldn't look Tsukiko in the eye for the rest of the day, thus she kept Julian company, which seemed to make him nervous.
When they arrived in Solaria the next afternoon, Tsukiko immediately used the Illusion card and disguised herself and the other girls as Amelia's ladies-in-waiting. The guys were going to stay with the ship in case things went sour; this, however, seemed to make Julian and Kero nervous and told Tsukiko that if there was trouble to just call for them, which earned them a smile.
Once they entered the gates, they lost their disguises and Stella stepped out to where Cassandra and Chimera could see her, making them start. Stella then said, "My dad's been spelled with Baltor's magic! Look at his neck!" and sure enough, Baltor's brand was on his neck. "People of Solaria, this wannabe queen and her daughter had bewitched your king!" causing the entire crowd to gasp.
"Don't' listen to her! She's lying!" Cassandra called out, to which Stella rebuttled with, "Oh, then how do you explain this thing!" pointing out the brand on King Radius' neck, "That's Baltor's brand and the one who put there is none other that scheming traitor Countess Cassandra!" Tsukiko could hear someone say, "Can that be true?" and another saying, "Stella is our princess. Why would she lie to us?" to which Chimera said, "Because she's a spoiled and jealous brat, that's why!"
"Well, at least I'm a real princess, Chimera," Stella said, which made her angry and she attacked Stella, but Tsukiko used the Shield card and blocked the attack, and said, "People of Solaria, if you do not believe Stella, then believe your own eyes," and showed them what had happened the day of Stella's princess ball, how Chimera had turned Stella into a hideous monster, and how they let Baltor take power from Solaria's second sun. Now they believed Stella and tried to stop Cassandra from running away with their king but she knocked them away like flies, but then Tsukiko stood in her way.
"Get out of my way, girl!" she growled.
"Now, that's no way to speak to the Moon Princess, who also turns out to be King Radius' niece by marriage," Tsukiko said, transforming into her guardian form and trapping Cassandra in a water bubble. "Stel, NOW!" Stella taking the hint, transformed and used her Fairy Dust to break Baltor's spell. What they didn't know is that Baltor had been watching the whole time. When he saw Tsukiko, he knew exactly who she was. "Her eyes," he said, "So beautiful, just like her mother's."